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Staroměstská radnice
Did you know that every single hour, a skeleton pops out of this clock and makes grown-ups SCREAM? Look up at that amazing astronomical clock on the tower - it's been ticking since 1410, that's over SIX HUNDRED years ago... way before your great-great-great-great-great grandparents were even born! See those windows up there? In 1945, Nazi soldiers set this whole building on FIRE during the very last days of World War Two, and the flames were so hot they melted the clock's metal parts into gooey puddles! But here's the coolest part - the people of Prague loved their clock SO much, they collected every single melted piece and put it back together like the world's hardest jigsaw puzzle! Can you count how many different buildings are actually squished together here? I'll give you a hint... it's FIVE different houses all connected with secret passages inside! And way up at the tippy-top of that tower, exactly 69.5 meters high - that's like stacking TWENTY-THREE giraffes on top of each other - there's a tiny chapel where people got married while looking out
Did You Know?
- The Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice) is not just one building, but a fascinating patchwork of several medieval houses joined together over centuries—each with its own history, architectural style, and even name, such as the Gothic 'Cockerel' house and the 'Minute' house, which were added to the complex in the 19th century. This unique architectural evolution means that walking through the halls is like stepping through different eras of Prague's past.
- Home to the world-famous Astronomical Clock (Orloj), installed in 1410, the Old Town Hall is one of the few places in Europe where you can still see an original medieval astronomical clock in operation—and its mechanical show of the Twelve Apostles and symbolic figures delights crowds every hour. What’s less known is that the astronomical dial, showing the positions of the sun, moon, and zodiac, is actually more significant than the mechanical show, as it reflects advanced medieval astronomical knowledge.
- During the Prague Uprising in May 1945, the Old Town Hall was severely damaged by fire, and the Astronomical Clock was nearly destroyed—yet it was restored within a few years, a testament to its cultural importance to the city. Today, visitors can climb the 59-meter tower, which leans slightly (23 cm to the south and 15 cm to the west), and enjoy panoramic views of Prague’s iconic rooftops and spires, a favorite activity for families and children.