The Powder Tower. Prague and its attractions

The Powder Tower (or Powder Gate) in Prague is an ancient building in the center of the city. When it was laid, it was supposed to have a practical purpose, but now it is just a monument of architecture. It is built on the site of one of the thirteen towers, where the procession began at the coronation of the kings.

The predecessor tower

In place of the City Tower, which stood a little to the west, later appeared the Powder Tower. Prague at that time was much smaller, and just at the City Tower ended the city.

The tower on the gate was connected by a gallery with the royal court. Previously, the palace was located on the site where the Municipal House is now. They decided to replace it after it decayed. In the people it was called "torn".

A logical question arises: why were they allowed to dilapidate their fortress gates and towers?

The thing is that the palace and towers were located in the Old place, and in 1348 a new place arose, behind which a new defensive fortress was built.

The Powder Tower in modern Prague

Now the tower is exclusively an object of culture and does not carry any practical functions. When it was being built it was the border of the city, but today the Powder Tower is in the center.

Prague and its surroundings open from the observation deck on the tower. In order to get on it, you need to overcome 163 steps.

The height of the tower is 65 meters, the site is located just below - at a distance of 40 meters.

Inside there is a photo exhibition, an exhibition of armor and weapons. Many excursions are sent from the Powder Tower, this is a very convenient landmark. In it there is a small souvenir shop where you can buy a coin with the image of the Powder Gate.

At the entrance to the Powder Tower stands a man in a red robe with a sham weapon and invites everyone to climb. Under the roof itself you can read all the information about the attractions. By the way, there are texts in Russian.

On the very roof of the Powder Tower you can see not only the beautiful panorama, but also the inscriptions made by tourists from all over the world. The oldest is left in 1821.

Construction of the Powder Tower

In those days the Gothic style was very popular, it is not surprising that it was in this style that the Powder Tower was built. Prague of those times, and not only it, had a lot of Gothic buildings.

The city architect Matej Reisek designed the tower, and the master Vaslav was in charge of the construction. During the first year of work, he managed to build the first floor.

Further work was more difficult, because in addition to rough laying it was necessary to make an artistic outer shell. And with this would not have been a mason. Therefore, to help the master Vatslav was Martin Reisek, who was a self-taught lover.

When he developed into his mastery of Wenceslas, he was entrusted with the completion of the construction. But he could not do it, because the royal court returned to Prague Castle - the king began to worry for his safety after religious unrest in the country. In addition, problems with financing began. An unfinished tower was put in a temporary roof and began to be used as a storage for gunpowder. Hence the name went.

For a long time the unfinished Powder Tower stood. Prague managed to replace not one king, but only in the 80 years of the 19th century the construction continued.

Tower Decoration

There were almost no decorative elements that were made by Martin Ricek. Only small sculptures. No one particularly watched the preservation of the historical monument, so many elements were removed so that they did not threaten the lives of passers-by. The Magistrate even discussed the idea of demolishing the entire Powder Tower. In addition, the Powder Gates suffered greatly in the Seven Years' War.

Josef Moker was invited for restoration. He invited a few more sculptors.

The tower was decorated with sculptures of kings and church subjects. On the third floor of the tower appeared images of Christ, the Virgin Mary, the apostles, Adam and Eve.

In the corners were placed the symbols of the virtue of kings, and on the second floor appeared the emblems of the lands and the angels. On the ground floor, the bust of Reisek and the figure of the knight were placed.

The masters tried to do everything in the style of the time when the tower began to be built, but some changes did take place.

Interior decoration

The interior of the tower is made in a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic. On the first floor, the Gothic vaults adjoin the consoles, which adorn the figures characteristic of the Romanesque style.

On the second floor the vaults are slightly different, but they are also decorated in a Gothic style. The ceilings are decorated with coats of arms.

On the stained-glass windows are depicted symbolic subjects: a monk with a book, a woman with a lamb, an angel with a book and others.

How to get there

The Powder Tower in Prague is located on the Republic Square, you can get to it by metro, near the same station. Or you can reach the tram 8, 91, 14, 26.

If you are afraid to get lost and not find the Powder Gate, the guide to Prague contains comprehensive information on how to get there.