St Nicholas Bell Tower in Prague Presents New Interactive Exhibition

Historic bell sounds, fascinating insights into the past and a new audio guide: the Baroque bell tower in Prague’s Lesser Town invites visitors on a journey of discovery through the city’s history.

The St Nicholas Bell Tower (Svatomikulášská městská zvonice) in Prague’s Lesser Town has been presenting a newly designed exhibition since 6 October. Entitled “Strážce bezpečí” (Guardian of Safety), the exhibition offers visitors insights into the building’s eventful history – from its former role as a fire watchtower to its use as an observation post by the communist secret police.

The new exhibition was developed by Prague City Tourism in collaboration with well-known Prague cultural figures. The concept was created by writer Vratislav Maňák, who has received the Jiří Orten Prize, among other awards.

At the heart of the exhibition is the theme of safety, which runs like a thread through the tower’s history. For centuries, it served to warn the population of fires and other dangers. During communist rule, however, the Czechoslovak State Security Service (StB) used the tower for surveillance.

Photo: Prague City Tourism

Historic Bell Becomes an Interactive Experience

A special feature of the new exhibition is the St Nicholas bell, which dates back to the 16th century and weighs more than 300 kilograms. It once called residents of the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) to church services and warned them of impending dangers.

Visitors can now activate and listen to the sound of the historic bell themselves through an interactive installation. This section is complemented by a presentation of the “Zvony paměti” (Bells of Memory) project, which uses regular bell ringing to commemorate people who stood up against totalitarian regimes.

Photo: Prague City Tourism

A new audio guide is also part of the exhibition concept. The Czech version is narrated by actress Antonie Formanová, while the English version is voiced by singer Charlie One. Both guide visitors through the different eras of the tower and present its history from various perspectives.

Insights into Life in Past Centuries

Alongside the new interactive elements, the historic rooms remain accessible. These include the former tower keeper’s apartment, a so-called black kitchen and the wallpaper room, which opened last year. The latter offers an insight into the simple and often cramped living conditions of poorer sections of the population towards the end of the 19th century.

In parallel with the redesign of the exhibition, the Baroque building underwent partial renovation. Among other things, the spiral staircase leading to the bell chamber, access to the former guardroom and areas around the historic clock mechanism were restored. The entrance area was also given a new look.

Photo: Prague City Tourism

215 Steps to the Viewing Platform

The bell tower of St Nicholas Church is one of the landmark historic buildings in Prague’s Lesser Town. It was designed and construction was begun by Baroque architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. Anselmo Lurago completed the building according to his plans in 1755.

Until 1891, the tower was used as a fire watchtower. It only lost this function with the introduction of a modern fire telegraph system (a precursor to the modern emergency call system). During the communist era, the building later served as an observation post for the State Security Service.

Photo: Prague City Tourism

Today, the tower is primarily a popular visitor attraction. Climbing 215 steps, visitors reach a viewing gallery at a height of 65 metres, offering impressive views over the rooftops of Prague’s Lesser Town.

Every year, more than 50,000 visitors from the Czech Republic and abroad visit the historic building. The newly designed exhibition aims to bring the tower’s history to life in an even more engaging way.