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Store gunpowder
- The gate was used to store gunpowder in the 17th century, hence the name Powder Tower or Powder Gate.
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The gate was used to store gunpowder in the 17th century, hence the name Powder Tower or Powder Gate. The gate suffered considerable damage during the Battle of Prague . The sculptures on the tower were replaced in 1876.
- Gothic
- Czech Republic
- 1475
- Prague
In the 17 th century, the Prague Powder Tower was used for storage of gunpowder; the origin of its current name. Originally it was called the “ New Tower ”, probably because it was inspired by the Old Town Bridge Tower on the other side of the Old Town.
Today’s name Powder Gate Tower (originally a New Tower) has been used since the beginning of the 18th century, when the tower was used as a gun-powder storage place. In 1757, all the plastic decorations were damaged by Prussian shooting, and they were removed in 1817.
The building to the right of the Prague Powder Gate is now the Municipal House but up until the 16th Century was still the Royal Court and was later used as an army barracks. The gate gets it’s name from the early 18th Century when as part of the barracks it securely held the gunpowder supply for the defence of this part of Prague.
- Insider Top Tips
- History
- What to See in The Powder Tower
- How to Get There
- Entrance Fee
- How Long to Allocate For Your Visit
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Visit early in the morning, when the sun (light) is shining on the centre of Prague & Castle Hill for easy to take photos without too many shadowsVisit just before closing time for sunset over the Prague Castle Hill, but bear in mind that if the light is strong or there are clouds the view will be quite dark and you might not get as nice pho...Great views and great for taking photos of the town, but not very suitable for taking pretty selfies or people pictures (with the view of the town) as there is fairly restrictive railing and walls...The previous gates before Powder Tower
The original build of the Powder Tower wasn’t a straightforward one. The work originally began in 1475. At the time the city walls started to become less and less important as the centre of Prague grew, and the walls were often used to build more houses or completely taken down. The Powder Tower was built close to an even older tower – originally a gate of St Ambrosius, later ‘Horska Gate’ – The Mountain Gate (not because of mountains, but because it stud on the way where you would leave the...
Built as a gift for a king
The Powder Tower was built by the Old Town of Prague Council as a coronation gift to king Vladislav II by architect and builder Matyas Rejsek from Prostejov. The King lived right next door to the future Powder Tower in the King’s Palace, which stood where the Municipal House (Obecni Dum) is now. This is where originally the future kings would start their journey through the town to the cathedral on top of the hill to be coronated. And this is why today, most tourists take the same walk, but w...
Started but not finished properly
The work on the tower started in 1475, but soon after that the King had to leave the town to protect other areas of Bohemia Kingdom against riots and the council lost motivation in completing the tower. The King Vladislav returned back to Prague briefly in 1483, but decided to stay at Prague Castle instead of his old King’s Castle. Later he even chose Budapest as his main residency, so the Old Town Council probably felt a bit peeved and didn’t see the reason to complete the tower whatsoever!...
Once you walk up the first set of (very narrow and quite steep steps) you’ll find the first floor with some explanation panels in a room with a large glass stained windows. The next floor includes a few extra history panels from the tower history and then you’ll head up to the top floor (seeing the top of the tower ceiling and few preserved sculptu...
The nearest underground is the Republic Square (Namesti Republiky) on line B (yellow) and you can also get to the same stop by trams 15, 6, 8.
Adults: 150 KCZ, Students, Over 60s, Discount Card, including public transport monthly or yearly ticket (Litacka) holders etc 135 KCZ, Children under 3, FREE You can get reduced entry fee to all the major towers across Prague, including Petrin Tower and Charles Bridge Tower. There is 50% discount when you visit in the first hour, when the tower ope...
I think you only need about 30 min to 45 minutes maximum. Each floor includes one historic panel (in Czech and English), which has a very brief information about the tower. Honestly, if you’ve just read my deep dive into the Powder Tower history, you already know more, than what you learn reading the panels at the tower. The most time you’ll spend ...
You’ll get a great view of Prague any season, whether it’s summer or winter. What’s probably more important is that you check the weather & sky before you buy your ticket and climb the stairs. Even during a cold Prague winter weather, the sky could be bright and the light will look great on the top of the roofs. You will want to choose a clear day,...
There are no facilities (toilet, left luggage or refreshments) at the Powder Tower, but there are plenty of cafes, shops and public facilities in the near by streets.
The tower viewing platforms are reached by 186 steps, which are often very steep and slightly uneven. There are a few passing areas (mainly two different floors with explanation panels), but it’s very difficult to pass people on the actual steps. Unfortunately, there is no lift and no other access to the top of the tower or to the exhibition panels...
Join us on this tour to see one of Prague’s most impressive gates—the Powder Gate—and its Gothic architecture. This tower was originally used to keep gunpowder, thus the name. Check out how the previous store changed into a Coronation ceremonial path leading to the castle.
Nov 24, 2015 · The gate acquired its name in the 17th century because it was used for storing gunpowder (originally called the Horská gate). The tower is a duplicate copy of the original tower which can be seen at Charles Bridge. There is also a small exhibition about the tower, and it is open for great views of the city. Address: Na příkopě, New Town.
