Prague’s Old Town Hall Celebrates 680th Birthday

Prague celebrates a number of important dates this year, which include the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Czech Republic, the 50th anniversary of Prague Spring, and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Czechoslovakia.

But the history of many of the city’s famous landmarks goes back quite a bit further.

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Prague’s Old Town Hall, which houses the famed Astronomical Clock and overlooks Old Town Square, was first established in 1338 and this weekend will celebrate its 680th birthday.

To honor the landmark, Prague City Tourism has prepared a special six-day lineup of events at the location that will be presented to the public free of charge.

Among those events is a series of lectures about the history of the landmark and those associated with it (presented in Czech), musical performances, and tours of the premises through locations not normally open to the public.

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Those tours include a lengthy route along an underground tunnel between Old Town Hall and New Town Hall that was used by members of the Prague Uprising during WWII and will be open to the public for the very first time. Due to the nature of the tunnel, it accessible by adults in physically fit condition (note: as of today, advance booking for the tunnel tour has reached its capacity).

The lectures will include information from restorers about the famed Astronomical Clock, which has been undergoing an extensive renovation this year.

The famed Astronomical Clock was taken down earlier this year for one of the most extensive restoration projects in its history. It will be unveiled to the public on September 28 during a special ceremony.