Prague, 5 October 2026 – The St Nicholas Bell Tower has unveiled a revamped exhibition entitled Guardian of Safety, developed in collaboration with prominent figures from Prague’s creative community. Opening to the public on 6 October, the exhibition explores the tower’s role in Czech history and introduces a new interactive feature that lets visitors play a recording of the St Nicholas bell. Weighing more than 300 kilograms, the bell was used from the 16th century onwards to summon Lesser Town residents to mass and warn them of disasters. A new audio guide, narrated in Czech by actress Antonie Formanová and in English by musician and producer Charlie One, also tells the stories behind the tower’s history. The landmark attracts tens of thousands of visitors from the Czech Republic and abroad each year. “By looking after Prague’s landmarks and investing in their preservation, we’re helping to protect the city’s historic character and unique spirit. We want future generations to be able to appreciate this heritage too. That’s why I’d encourage Prague’s residents and visitors to come and see the revamped exhibition, which also has an interactive element,” says Tomáš Slabihoudek, Prague City councillor for culture and tourism. Prague City Tourism worked on the new exhibition with leading figures from Prague’s creative community. Writer Vratislav Maňák, winner of the Jiří Orten Award and a nominee for the Magnesia Litera literary prize, developed the concept. The exhibition centres on the theme of safety, reflecting both the tower’s history as a fire watchtower and its use as an observation post by the communist secret police (StB). A new audio guide is also available in Czech and English, narrated by actress Antonie Formanová in Czech and musician and producer Charlie One in English. The guide explores how the idea of safety has evolved over time. The area housing the 16th-century St Nicholas bell now features a display dedicated to the Bells of Memory project, which marks the lives of those who stood up against totalitarian regimes by regularly ringing bells in their memory. An interactive section lets visitors hear the sound of the St Nicholas bell and learn about some of the people honoured by the project. Visitors can also continue to explore the bell-ringer’s flat, the black kitchen, and the Wallpaper Room, which offers a unique glimpse into how Prague’s poorer residents lived in the late 19th century. “The bell is the central thread running through the exhibition. It warns of danger, marks the passage of time, and rings in memory of those who came before us. Its sound is woven into the exhibition too, and we’ve even used bell strikes to break up the written displays and bring a little playfulness to the tower’s story,” says writer Vratislav Maňák, who developed the exhibition concept. As well as revamping the exhibition, Prague City Tourism has carried out further refurbishment work on the Baroque tower. This included the spiral staircase leading to the bell chamber, the watch room, and the clock mechanism, plus the entrance portal from the roof of St Nicholas Church. A new ticket office and entrance hall have also been created for visitors, designed by architecture studio Olgoj Chorchoj, which was also behind the recent refurbishment of the Old Town Hall’s ground floor. “We want to look after all the historic landmarks in our care and keep them in the best possible condition for future generations. That’s why we check them every year and gradually carry out any necessary repairs and improvements. We also really value the chance to work with leading Czech creative talents on the new exhibition, which offers Prague residents and visitors an original way to get to know the tower,” says František Cipro, chair of Prague City Tourism’s board. “We do everything we can to make sure that work on Prague’s landmarks is carried out with care and respect for their historical significance. We don’t want to change these buildings. We want to preserve their authenticity and character, along with their original appearance and atmosphere. That’s why we discuss every proposed change carefully and work closely with conservation specialists and other experts,” explains Karel Kučera, curator of Prague’s towers. The St Nicholas Bell Tower was designed by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, who also began building it. Anselmo Lurago completed the tower to Dientzenhofer’s plans in 1755. Its viewing gallery stands 65 metres above the ground and is reached by 215 steps. The tower served as a fire watchtower until 1891, when Prague introduced a modern fire alarm telegraph system. During the communist era, it was also used as an observation post by the state security service, another significant chapter in its history. The tower attracts more than 50,000 visitors from the Czech Republic and abroad each year. A new exhibition opened last year in the Wallpaper Room, offering a unique glimpse into how the city’s poorer residents lived in the late 19th century.
