18 June 2025 – Prague is continuing its efforts to preserve its historic heritage, with restoration works now under way in Malá Strana on the plinth (the exterior section surrounding the entrance portal) of the St Nicholas Bell Tower. The project, continuing the restoration work begun last year on the bell tower’s entrance portal, is expected to take about three months. The monument will remain open throughout, and visitors can continue to explore the interior and enjoy the views from the tower gallery. “We share the goal of ensuring that Prague’s monuments remain in good condition for future generations. That is why, in cooperation with Prague City Tourism, which manages the monument, we carry out regular maintenance and sensitive restoration work that these important historic structures deserve,” says Jiří Pospíšil, Prague’s deputy mayor responsible for culture and tourism. “Following the cleaning of the Powder Gate’s façade last year, we have moved on to conscientious care for another of Prague’s monuments. I am pleased that we have approached the restoration of the plinth of the St Nicholas Bell Tower in a way ensuring, once again, that we are able to carry out the work without significantly disrupting the visitor experience,” adds František Cipro, chair of Prague City Tourism’s board of directors. The St Nicholas Bell Tower will first be given an initial clean to remove coarse dirt. This will be followed by controlled pressure washing and the mechanical removal of unsuitable sealants and joint materials. “The lower section of the plinth is heavily soiled, so we will begin by applying a special desalination wrap to help consolidate the stone elements. We will then gently clean the plinth, fill any cracks, and repair the damaged parts,” explained Karel Kučera, curator of Prague’s towers at Prague City Tourism. “The final step will be a unifying retouch to ensure the entire plinth appears cohesive and consistent,” Kučera added. Since June, the lower section of the St Nicholas Bell Tower has been covered by scaffolding, which is expected to remain in place until early October. The restoration follows up on last year’s refurbishment of the entrance portal, which involved surface cleaning, the removal of unsuitable sealants, and the replacement of missing elements. The Baroque St Nicholas Bell Tower, dating back to the 18th century, was built by the Jesuits. It once served as a fire watchtower (the last of its kind in Prague). Inside, visitors can see the apartments once occupied by tower guards who, in the event of a fire, would alert residents and firefighters. From the 1960s, the tower was also used as a surveillance post for the secret police, monitoring the nearby Western embassies. In April, a new exhibition space – the wallpaper room – opened to the public, offering a unique glimpse into the living conditions of Prague’s lowest social classes at the end of the 19th century.
