In the footsteps of famousMany interesting and famous people have visited the Old Town Hall before you. Among them were such notable figures as Lech Walesa, Polish politician and dissident, later President of Poland; heir to the British Crown Prince Charles and Princess Diana; the famous French actress Annie Girardot; American actor Tom Cruise; Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and many others.

We look forward to your visit!

The Old Town Hall is open daily:Mon 11.00 – 18.00Tue – Sun 9.00 – 18.00

The Town Hall Tower is open daily:Mon 11.00 – 22.00Tue – Sun 9.00 – 22.00

Night Tours:Fri, Sat from 20.30

Special tours for children:Sun from 14.00

Astronomical Clock:daily 9.00 – 23.00

Old Town Hall in Prague

www.prague.euText and photo © Prague City Tourism 2013

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Old Town Hall in Prague Old Town Hall – the symbol of city authority – is probably the most beautiful sight in Prague's historic centre. Its origins date back to the 14th century, when townhouses were gradually merged into one building, and it has often figured prominently in the history of Prague and the Czech state.

George of Poděbrady was elected king of Bohemia here, and Jan Želivský, a radical Hussite leader, was executed in its courtyard. Later, after the Battle of White Mountain, participants in the Estates Uprising were taken directly to the gallows from the jail located in the Town Hall. Twenty-seven of them met their ends in the Old Town Square. Even wartime had its effects on the Town Hall. During the Prague Uprising, at the end of the second World War, part of the town hall was burned and the famous Astronomical Clock was heavily damaged.

From a bird's eye perspectiveDominating the square is the 69.5-meter high tower. From there, from a bird's eye perspective, you can enjoy an amazing view of the entire city! From here you can take in broad Pařížská třída (Paris Avenue) with its interesting eclectic houses, the old Jewish town with its synagogues and cemeteries, the majestic Prague Castle and the Cathedral of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert, as well as the dozens of towers, turrets and domes and Prague's diverse architecture – it's truly the most beautiful view of the city.

Medieval undergroundMedieval Prague reveals itself to you through the doors in the basement of the Old Town Hall. What did the interiors of houses in Prague's Old Town, their wells and portals look like during the 12th and 13th centuries? Where was the Town Hall prison, in which Czech lords spent the last hours of their lives as punishment for their participation in the Estates Uprising?

The apostles up closeNo visitor to Prague wants to miss seeing the famous Astronomical Clock. But you can also see the apostles up close and personally – the wooden figurines and their typical attributes as created by sculptor Vojtěch Suchard, as well as part of the clock mechanism and the interior of the beautiful Gothic chapel.

Astronomical ClockPrague's Astronomical Clock, which displays the motion of the planets and the twelve apostles, is an intrinsic part of the Old Town Hall. The Astronomical Clock was created in 1410 and has been threatened several times with destruction or being scrapped. In addition to the 12 Apostles, it features moving figurines including the Skeleton, Vanity, the Miser and the Turk (a symbol of Lust). Everyone can also find their sign of the zodiac.

Ceremonial Halls of the Old Town HallEven today, the Old Town Hall remains an integral part of the city centre. The Lord Mayor of Prague receives prominent figures and special guests here. The most beautiful space is the Renaissance Old Council Hall with its painted coffered ceiling. Also of interest are other rooms decorated with monumental paintings and sculptures.

View from the tower Apostles from the chapel

Old Town Hall Underground Exterior detail of the astronomical clockOld Town Square and Old Town Hall

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