Prague’s Towers
The 500 spires of Prague are better witnessed from the air! Here’s a summary of the more popular and lesser-known Prague towers. The ‘miniature Eiffel Tower’ is reachable through the funicular station near the tram stop in Újezd.
After leaving the funicular (on the 2nd stop), follow the crowd to the official Observation Tower of Petřín, built to replicate the real thing in 1891 for a Jubilee Exhibition. It provides, undoubtedly, some of the clearest views of Prague. Near to this, St. Nicholas’ Church Tower was re-opened recently to the public. Ever since 1950, its’ been used by the secret police of Czechoslovak to record the dealings of the neighbouring embassies in the west.
Charles Bridge has one tower on each side: The Old Town Bridge Tower and The Lesser Town Bridge Tower. The latter is the eldest, with Romanesque features which date back to twelve forty-nine. In contrast, the former was constructed along with Charles Bridge and is regarded as among the best examples of Gothic style architecture in all of Europe.
Powder Tower is among Prague’s most significant medieval structures in the Old Town. It is here where the royal courts would start their coronation processions to the castle. Also located in the Old Town, the Town Hall was the place of some macabre episodes in Czech histories, such as the incarceration and execution of the 27 leaders of the White Mountain Battle in sixteen twenty-one. Remember the TV Tower in Žižkov. Although not so centrally placed, the highest building in Prague is most famous for the ‘baby alien’ sculptures crafted in 2000 by the Czech sculptor David Černy.
