130 years ago, Petřín Lookout Tower first opened to the public
19 August, Prague – Petřín Hill will be celebrating this anniversary of the opening of the Petřín Tower, from Friday to Sunday. Prague City Tourism, the organization which has this Prague landmark in its care, has prepared an accompanying programme for visitors to mark the anniversary. In addition, as part of such an auspicious jubilee, the organization has had the Lookout Tower remeasured, to see just exactly how high it is now, after numerous changes. Geodetic measurements have shown that the Lookout Tower is nearly five metres shorter than its originally stated height of 63.5 metres.
On August 20, 130 years ago, Prague saw the public opening of a scaled-down version of the Eiffel Tower. The Petřín Lookout Tower was built in just five months at the behest of the Czech Ramblers Association, the “Klub českých turistů”.
“For 130 years, Petřín Tower has been giving visitors a fantastic view of the capital, and in good weather, they could see as far as legendary mount Říp and beyond that, the Krkonoše / Giant Mountains. However, this Prague landmark also serves as a floodlit beacon, Prague’s symbolic torch to mark important anniversaries, or to express solidarity and compassion, as was the case after the Notre-Dame Cathedral fire, when it lit up with the red, white and blue of the French tricoleur” says Hana Třeštíková, Councillor for Culture and Tourism.
From Friday to Sunday, to commemorate the Lookout Tower’s inception, Prague City Tourism has prepared an accompanying visitor programme. There are informative talks for all who wish to learn more, led by Prague Tour Guides, as well as a symbolic gift. Visitors can also look forward to actors in period attire strolling around the park to make the end of the 19th century come to life.
According to representatives of Prague City Tourism, the organization will be commemorating the anniversary throughout the year. “In mid-June, we opened the Petřín Tower Information Centre for visitors, where they can not only get fascinating historical snippets, but also current tourist information. The Lookout Tower now serves as a pilot point-of-sale for our new collection of souvenirs to stimulate more classy tourism,” explains František Cipro, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague City Tourism.
Construction of the Petřín Tower began in March 1891 and was built in just five months, which was truly remarkable for the time, say expert historians. “For instance, few people know that Petřín hosted the first radio station, which started broadcasting just after the First World War.” says Karel Kučera, the Prague Towers curator, adding: “During World War II, Hitler wanted to have it demolished, but the 1942 circumstances and events in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia [‘Operation Anthropoid’ …] pushed that idea aside.”
Coinciding with the anniversary, Prague City Tourism had the tower remeasured to avoid speculation about how high it is now, after successive alterations. “The Lookout Tower now measures 58.70 metres at the highest surviving point of the original construction. This is the pyramidal structure above the roof of the highest viewing platform,” concludes Kučera.