petřín tower

The view from the top spreads not only across the entirety of Prague, but in fine weather also over most of Bohemia. Its symbol is the cherry blossom as a reference to the cherry trees of the Seminary Gardens on the slopes of Petřín Hill, a popular place among lovers who come to kiss under the blossoming trees on 1 May. It was built as part of the Jubilee Exposition in 1891 as a loose copy of the Eiffel Tower of Paris (at a ratio of 1:5). The idea to build the Petřín Lookout Tower was born in 1889. The members of the Czech Tourist Club, visiting the world exhibition in Paris, were so impressed by the view of the famous Eiffel Tower that they decided to create a similar landmark above the city of Prague. They founded the Society for the Construction the Lookout Tower, invested the first funds and procured a piece of land from city hall. The site for the five-times smaller replica of the Eiffel Tower was chosen at the summit of Petřín Hill, 324 m above sea level.  Construction of the lookout tower was accelerated by the organisation of the Prague Jubilee Exhibition in 1891. In 1890, the project design was drafted and the necessary funds were secured. 

Construction began in March 1891 based on a design by Arch. Vratislav Pasovský. The authors of the construction were Ing. František Prášil and Ing. Julius Souček from Českomoravská strojírna. The whole structure was built in an incredibly short time. It was officially approved on 28 July 1891 and ceremoniously opened on 20 August 1891. The tower consists of a light octagonal steel lattice structure, constructed with 175 tons of iron. The structure’s eight ‘arms’ are anchored in massive stone blocks at the points of an octagon with a diagonal measuring 21.65 m. To get to the top, you have to climb 299 stairs to the observation cabin at a height of 51 m, which offers a stunning view over the city. According to a remeasurement in 2021, the total height of the tower is 58.70 metres to the highest point of the original and still preserved structure. This is the pyramidal structure above the roof of the highest observation deck. 

Twenty metres above ground on the first floor, a covered observation terrace with a gallery was built. Originally, the roof was fitted with a stylised crown and a flagstaff. In the middle of the tower is a tube that used to house a cabin elevator. In the past, this initially gas-powered and later electric elevator took six persons at a time up to the lookout platform. The ground-floor pavilion served as a restaurant. On 19 December 1891, an electric light shone from the tower for the first time. An arc lamp was installed at the highest point near the very crown. According to the press at the time, it gave off a light that made it possible to read with ease beneath the tower. On 5 July 1938, during the Sokol festival in Prague, there was probably a short-circuit and a fire broke out inside the elevator cabin. The visitors escaped the cabin in time and descended to the ground floor, but the upper part of the tower was damaged and had to be partially rebuilt. 

On 1 May 1953, a television transmitter was put into operation on the tower. At the time, the elevator was removed to allow the passage of cables and power supply through the tube. The cabin on the first floor also starting being used by the telecommunications company, to which the entire tower was transferred. Instead of the royal crown, a television antenna was placed on top and later an antenna tube extension. Visitors were left only with the two staircases and the upper observation cabin. The lookout tower was closed to the public in 1980 due to the hazardous condition of the tube and staircase. In 1991, the General Czechoslovak Exhibition was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Municipal Jubilee Exhibition. On that occasion, the tower underwent essential repairs before opening to the public. In 1998, a general reconstruction of the lookout tower began, lasting two years while remaining in operation. The works were carried out by Spojprojekt Praha a.s., during which the old staircases were dismantled and replaced with new ones made of high-quality wood. A new tube was installed with an elevator to take the disabled and elderly to the upper observation cabin. Instead of the former enclosed balcony, an elegant new gallery was built at 20 metres above ground, which is wheelchair accessible. The lookout tower was opened to the public after reconstruction on 24 March 2002.