Powder Gate Tower

The Powder Gate Tower was built on the site of the former Old Town fortifications moat. It was built to replace the dilapidated previous gate tower, called the Horská (for it marked the start of the royal road to the treasury city of the kingdom – Kutná Hora). When Charles IV founded the New Town of Prague, encircled by a new perimeter wall, the Old Town councillors stopped taking care of their own town’s fortifications. →

After the Hussite wars, Prague castle, the seat of the monarch, was in such a dilapidated state that the royal seat moved to the King’s Court on the site of today’s Municipal House. This was right next to Horská gate tower, then also nicknamed the Ravaged [Odraná] because of its condition. When Vladislaus II became King of Bohemia, he pressured the Old Town council to repair the tower, because such a crumbling gate-tower right next to the royal palace was a disgrace. The tower was by then in such a state that it had to be torn down, with a completely new tower built next to where it had stood. It is thought that it was also to serve as a would-be refuge for the king and his immediate entourage. This was probably one of the reasons for moving the tower location into the moat.
In 1475, the stonemason, named Václav, began construction of a lavishly conceived building. As we learn from records of that time, Václav was not having success with the construction, so Matěj (Matyáš) Rejsek from Prostějov took over the project. Master Matěj carried out the construction of the exterior walls but not the floors (vaulting) nor the roof. Work ceased in 1483 when King Vladislaus moved up to Prague Castle, by then repaired. The Old-Town councillors lost interest in financing the construction and the tower was only provisionally finished off. It wasn’t until sometime in the Baroque period that the tower got its vaulting. It has had its ‘Powder’ epithet since the 18th century, although we have no surviving records to confirm that it ever served as an armoury – a [Gun]Powder Tower. The tower had only minimal upkeep until its magnificent refurbishment by Josef Mocker in 1878-86. It had only been fitted out with a clock. Mocker had it removed. He redesigned the tower in a similar style to the Old Town Bridge Gate. He gave the building new vaulting, roofing and a roof gallery. The exterior decorations were only slightly augmented.
Since the end of the 19th century, the Powder Tower has undergone only partial modifications, in the 1960s and early 1990s. Not all such interventions can be considered improvements, for example, the blackening of the façade or the unwisely routed electrical wiring are both very problematic impositions on this heritage monument. We can only hope that after a thorough survey the tower will get to see the implementation of the revitalization project that it has been owed for more than 130 years. More information can be found here.

Services on offer

Inspection tours

  • Individual tour of the historic tower with a view from the 44m high gallery, without prior boking
  • Guided tours of the tower or exceptional themed events

Renting the property:

  • Unconventional tours of the tower outside opening hours
  • Private tours of the tower for corporate events or individuals
  • Special tours for school groups or special-interest groups
  • Weddings
  • Rental of the tower for the purpose of holding private events (corporate meetings, events for the professional public, etc.) 

Opening hours

January – March 26: Mon - Sun 10.00 am - 6.00 pm
March 27 - May: Mon - Sun 10.00 am - 7.00 pm
June - September: Mon - Sun 9.00 am - 8.30 pm
October - November: Mon - Sun 10.00 am - 6.00 pm
December: Mon - Sun 10.00 am - 7.30 pm

Admission

basic | reduced | family: CZK 190 | CZK 130 | CZK 380
Lítačka card holder: CZK 170
Combi-ticket – Powder Gate Tower + The New Mill Water Tower: CZK 250 | CZK 170 | CZK 520
Multi-ticket "9 objects in 365 days": CZK 990 | CZK 690 |  –   |
Early Bird Discount initiative: 50% off the admission fee every day during the first hour after opening
10% discount on admission when buying an eTicket online

Free admission for children under 5. The reduced admission fee is intended for children aged 6-15, students under 26, seniors over 65, and holders of disability identification card ZTP. The family ticket is valid for 2 adults and up to 4 children. 

Contacts

Na Příkopě / náměstí Republiky
Praha 1 - Staré Město

General information

Rentals, events

Operations manager