Novomlýnská vodárenská věž

About the museum

A wooden waterworks already stood on the site of today’s tower in 1484. After frequent fires, at the beginning of the 17th century it was replaced by a stone Renaissance tower with a viewing terrace called the lusthaus. The flood of 6 February 1655 seriously damaged it, and so today’s Baroque tower was built in 1658.

Water from the Vltava was pumped into a reservoir in the upper part of the tower and flowed down through wooden pipes in a shaft to the ground floor, from where it went to the city fountains and houses. The tower supplied the Lower Nové Město and served until 1877; more than fifty public fountains drew water from it. The symbol of the tower is a mill wheel, because mills and sawmills stood in the area.

After a general renovation the tower first opened to the public in 2017. Today it is managed by Prague City Tourism, and the permanent exhibition Praha hoří! introduces the role of the waterworks towers, fire and the stories of Prague firefighters, using video mapping, animation, video art and virtual reality. The tour ends in the viewing hall on the sixth floor with twelve windows, which is considered the historically first observation tower in Prague.

Highlights

• Permanent multimedia exhibition Praha hoří! about firefighters and fires
• Viewing hall (lusthaus) on the sixth floor with a panorama of Prague
• Baroque waterworks tower from 1658
• Video mapping, animation and virtual reality

Permanent exhibition

• Praha hoří! – Multimedia exhibition on the role of waterworks towers, fire and the stories of Prague firefighters; it ends in the viewing hall on the top floor.

Founded

2017

Operated by

Prague City Tourism (správce); majitel: hlavní město Praha

Admission & discounts

Holders of the Lítačka card pay CZK 135. Tickets are sold only by Prague City Tourism at its own ticket offices and online.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The site is not step-free.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The exhibition uses video mapping, animation and virtual reality, so it is interesting for children too; a family ticket costs CZK 300.

Getting there & parking

The tower stands in the Petrská quarter on Nové Mlýny in Prague 1.

Amenities & dining

The tower can be rented for private events, such as company meetings.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The website states that the tower can be rented for private events, such as company meetings.

Plan your visit