The Powder Tower was a part of the Prague city walls.
Today it is one of the most popular viewpoints in the Old Town.
Here we collected all the important information about the tower, including the entrance fees, its history, and address.
What Can I Do at the Powder Tower?
The Powder Tower is about 65 meters high. At a height of 44 meters there is a viewing platform that offers an impressive view of Prague's Old Town. There is no elevator, 186 partly very steep steps of the spiral staircase dating from 1592 lead to the viewing platform.
On the first floor of the Powder Tower there is a small permanent exhibition about the tower and its history. Some of the exhibits are sculptures of the kings of the Bohemian Empire and other works of art.
On the exterior of the tower one can admire numerous statues of kings surrounded by the coats of arms of the countries they ruled, in the corners are allegories of the rulers' virtues. Above the statues are winged angels and on the four corner columns is a lion with the coat of arms of Prague's Old Town.
At night, when it is illuminated, the Powder Tower stands out especially among the sights of Prague.
How Do I Get to the Powder Tower?
The Powder Tower is a 5-minute walk from the Old Town Square and can be easily reached by metro line B, yellow line, Námĕstí Republiky stop.
Admission to the Powder Tower
The Powder Tower is open all year round.
Tickets: Tickets are available on-site, as well as online. >> Buy your ticket here.
History
The Prague Powder Tower is built in the Gothic style. It is located in the very center of Prague, directly on Republic Square, next to the Obecní Dum Municipal House. The construction was started in 1475, but was demolished 9 years after it began, because the king of that time had his official residence moved from the Old Town to Prague Castle. It was not until 400 years later, in 1886, that construction was completed.
In the past, Czech kings entered the Old Town through the Powder Tower during their coronation processions. Even today, the Powder Tower is a monumental entrance to the Old Town, standing at the beginning of the Coronation or Royal Route leading to Prague Castle.
It owes its name to the fact that it used to serve as a storehouse for gunpowder.
Along with the Old Town Bridge Tower on Charles Bridge, the tower is one of the two remaining structures of the total of 13 gates and fortification towers that once stood around Prague's Old Town.
Contact
- Address: Nám. Republiky 5, 110 00 Staré Město, Prague
- Public Transport: Námĕstí Republiky station, Yellow line B.
- Opening hours: the exact opening hours are here.