The Baroque St Nicholas Bell Tower in Prague’s Lesser Town is currently undergoing further renovation. Work on the base of the historic building has been under way since June – access for visitors remains unrestricted.
Another part of Prague’s historic heritage is being restored in the Lesser Town. Renovation has been ongoing since June on the base of the Baroque St Nicholas Bell Tower (Svatomikulášská městská zvonice) – the section of the structure that frames the entrance area. The construction work is expected to last around three months. Visitors will still be able to explore the landmark without restriction during this period – they can continue to enjoy the tower’s interior and the view from the gallery.
‘Our common goal is to preserve Prague’s monuments in good condition for future generations,’ emphasises Jiří Pospíšil, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Tourism. ‘That is why, together with the municipal tourism organisation Prague City Tourism, we are focusing on regular maintenance and careful interventions that such important buildings deserve.’
Following the restoration of the Powder Tower last year, another of Prague’s landmarks is now coming into focus. ‘I am particularly pleased that the renovation of the tower base will not significantly disrupt visitor access,’ adds František Cipro, CEO of Prague City Tourism.
The initial plan is to thoroughly clean the base of coarse dirt and rinse it using regulated water pressure. In addition, unsuitable sealants will be removed and the masonry will be repointed.
‘The lower part of the base is heavily soiled, so we will first apply a special desalination pack to help strengthen the stone,’ explains Karel Kučera, curator of Prague towers at Prague City Tourism. ‘We will then gently clean the surface, fill in cracks and repair any damaged areas. The final step will be retouching to ensure a harmonious overall appearance.’
The lower part of the tower has been surrounded by scaffolding since the beginning of June, which is expected to remain in place until early October. The total cost of the work amounts to over 800,000 crowns. This latest phase follows last year’s restoration of the entrance portal, which included replacing damaged joints and adding missing elements.
The St Nicholas City Tower dates back to the 18th century and was built by the Jesuit Order. For many years, the Baroque tower served as a municipal fire station – the last of its kind in Prague. Inside, visitors can now see the historic living quarters once occupied by the tower keepers, who would sound the alarm in case of fire. From the 1960s onwards, the State Security Service also used the tower as an observation post to monitor Western embassies in the surrounding area. Since April this year, a new exhibition has been on display in the so-called Tapestry Room, offering a rare glimpse into the everyday life of Prague’s poorer population at the end of the 19th century.
