Svatomikulášská městská zvonice

About the museum

The belfry was built together with St Nicholas’s Church in Malá Strana. The design was started by Kryštof Dientzenhofer, continued by his son Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, and completed by Anselmo Lurago. From 1755 it served as the hláska (the town’s observation post), where a tower warden paid by the town lived. He warned residents of fires, floods or enemy attack; after the watch service was abolished in 1891, the tower warden looked after the clocks. The town won a court case against the Jesuits over ownership of the tower.

In 1925 a fire destroyed the Baroque clock mechanism, but the bell Mikuláš, cast in 1576, survived and still hangs in the tower. In the second half of the 20th century the tower became a secret observation post of the State Security (Státní bezpečnost), which from its top monitored foreign embassies in the surrounding area.

Today the belfry is managed by Prague City Tourism. The tour includes the reconstructed tower warden’s flat from the 18th and 19th centuries with a black kitchen, the hlásnice (watch room), the floor with the bells and the StB observation post. There is also the exhibition Strážce bezpečí (Guardian of Safety) and an exhibition on the project Zvony paměti (Bells of Memory). From the gallery, reached by 215 steps, there is a view of Malá Strana and Prague Castle.

Highlights

• Tower warden’s flat from the 18th century with a black kitchen
• Hlásnice (watch room) from which the tower warden kept watch over the city
• State Security (StB) observation post with a view of the embassies
• Bell Mikuláš from the 16th century
• Gallery at a height of 65 m with views over Prague

Permanent exhibitions

• Custos Turris – Strážce města – The exhibition presents the tower warden’s flat from the second half of the 18th century, the black kitchen and the watch room where the tower warden performed his duty.
• Strážce bezpečí – Information panels explain the role of the tower in Czech history, including the StB observation post and the bell Mikuláš.

Operated by

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

Admission & discounts

Holders of the Lítačka card pay CZK 180. When buying a ticket for the historic tram 42, there is a CZK 50 discount on admission. Tickets are sold only by Prague City Tourism.

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; 215 steps lead to the gallery.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kids

215 steps lead to the gallery and the site is not step-free; a family ticket costs CZK 400.

Getting there & parking

The belfry stands on Malostranské náměstí by St Nicholas’s Church.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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