Henry’s Tower

You are now standing at the foot of the tallest independent bell tower in Prague, with 65.7 meters high. Built in the 15th century, Henry’s Tower (Jindřišská věž) originally served as a watchtower, then as a bell tower for St. Henry’s Church, hence its name. Partially destroyed from the 17th century to the 18th century, it also lost its Gothic roof during a storm in 1801. The structure was later restored by Czech architect Josef Mocker, known for his many renovations on some of Prague’s historic landmarks. Since 2002, Henry’s Tower has opened its 10 floors to the public, where you can find a luxury restaurant, a café, a souvenir shop, and an exhibition gallery dedicated to Prague’s towers. Speaking of towers—do you know how many there are in Prague? Some time ago, specialists flew above Prague in a 3-kilometer radius to try and count them. They managed to identify 120, but, in reality there is probably around a thousand—excluding the smaller turrets on bourgeois buildings. There’s a reason why Prague is called “The City of a Hundred Spires” or “The City of a Hundred Towers.” As you climb up Henry’s Tower, you may hear its carillon chime, a sound that can only be heard from inside the building. And once you’re on top, no worries, you’ll have a brilliant view of the city no matter the time of day.