Historic Paternoster Elevator at Prague City Hall Reopens with Guided Tours

Prague City Hall's historic paternoster elevator has reopened to the public today, June 1, 2024, after being closed for over a year on account of safety concerns. The reopening is part of a new guided tour called the New City Hall Paternoster Tour, launched in collaboration with Prague City Tourism.

The tour offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the interiors of Prague's New City Hall (Nová radnice) building on Mariánské náměstí, including a ride on its historic paternoster elevator. The tour is restricted to individuals over 18 years old for safety reasons.

Tickets are priced at CZK 250 for adults and CZK 170 for seniors and students over the age of 18, with purchases available online. The tour is available to the general public on weekends, holidays, and selected weekday evenings.

Why this matters: The reopening of the historic paternoster elevator at Prague City Hall marks a significant moment for the city's heritage tourism, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural landmarks for future generations. This initiative may set a precedent for other cities to prioritize the restoration and public access of their own historical sites, promoting cultural exchange and understanding.

The guided tour includes several stops, allowing visitors to experience not only the paternoster elevator but also selected interiors of the historic New City Hall building. Highlights include the historic staircase from 1911 and the Grand Council Chamber of the Prague City Assembly.

The paternoster elevator has a rich history, dating back to the late 19th century, with one of the first appearing in London. New City Hall contained the very first paternoster in Prague, dating to 1911. The original paternoster was replaced by a new circular elevator in the 1970s, and it underwent a comprehensive three-month renovation in 2017, costing over CZK 3.5 million.

Last year, the paternoster was taken out of service because of unsafe behavior by tourists, who were jumping on and off the elevator and overcrowding its cabins. In May, the paternoster resumed operations for Prague City Hall employees, and the city sought to find a solution to allow public access to this unique heritage site.

František Cipro, chairman of Prague City Tourism, commented on the initiative: "We are launching this pilot tour route on June 1 at the request of our shareholder, the City of Prague. We will evaluate its performance after about a year. Our top priority is the safety of our visitors, so we will continue to develop the route and assess any potential risks over time."

The reopening of the historic paternoster elevator at Prague City Hall marks a significant moment for the city's heritage tourism. Visitors now have the chance to experience a piece of history while exploring the architectural and historical treasures of the New City Hall building.

Key Takeaways

• Prague City Hall's historic paternoster elevator reopens to the public on June 1, 2024.
• The elevator is part of a new guided tour, restricted to individuals over 18 years old.
• Tickets cost CZK 250 for adults and CZK 170 for seniors and students over 18.
• The tour includes stops at the historic staircase and Grand Council Chamber.
• The elevator's reopening promotes heritage tourism and cultural preservation.