PRAGUE ASTRONOMICAL CLOCK TOWER

There are a variety of observatories to observe at the city when visiting Prague. The most central one of these options is the Prague Old Town Astronomical Clock Tower Observatory which has been renovated and is much tidier.  

Must see the Astronomical Clock's "twelve apostles" performance every hour

The old town of Prague is always crowded with many tourists as this city is where many of them start their journey. If you visit early in the morning or late at night, you be able to experience more quieter and calmer atmosphere. Also, it is one of the most alive spots in the city where there are many street artists performing. There are various cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. You can easily and quickly access many attractions around the old town.

The Prague Old Town Astronomical Clock was designed in 1410. The Astronomical Clock consists of the astronomical almanac and the ephemeris. These days, every hour on the hour, it is crowded with people because there is a performance of the twelve apostles from the clock. The skeleton rings a bell, flips the hourglass, and informs the Turkish statue that the apocalypse is approaching. The statue shakes his head as a means of refusal. The twelve apostles appear in order from two small windows from the clock. If you enter the old City Hall and go up to the second-floor chapel, you can see the procession of the twelve apostles at a better angle.

The old City Hall was built by purchasing private houses from the 14th century and conjoining them into a building. It was built in 1338 and consists of five historical buildings, each representing an era of architectural style. Gernerally, it is a gothic building and the height of the old city hall tower is 69.5 m. Later in the 19th century, the Northeast building was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style.

There are two ways to climb up to the observatory. If you want to go the fast and easy way, wait for the elevator that takes you up. It is a bit hard to climb up the stairs but you can go up slowly, and embrace the historical staircase in this building. The glass elevator of the Prague Astronomical Clock Tower Observatory is the only elevator used in Prague's medieval tower.

When you arrive to the observatory, you will be faced with a 360-degree view of Prague. The first view that you will encounter will be Prague's Old Town. The pastel-toned buildings and the red roofs are a symbol of Prague, and will signify that you have arrived to Prague, a romantic city of Eastern Europe.

A view from the observatory toward the Old Town Square and Church of Our Lady before Tyn. It is a wonderful viewpoint that looks down at the bustling Old Town of Prague. If you look further away, you will notice that the vibrant sounds of the crowd disappear and the scenery looks calm and extraordinary.

From a different angle, you can see the Prague Castle. As this observatory is located in the center of Prague, it is the best viewpoint to see all the parts of Prague at a single glance.  

O'bon Paris' tip

The stunning scenery of Prague will make you continuously take photos in order to try and capture its beauty. It is strongly recommended to visit Prague Old Town Astronomical Clock Tower Observatory to fully appreciate the red roofs of Prague, one of the biggest charms of the city. If you want to have a view that's further away from town, you can go to the Petrin Observatory.

Words by Youra CHOI

Photographs by Yuna LEE