By Anthony Gardner, tour guide at Free Walking Tour Prague
Rising above Prague Castle, the Great South Tower of St Vitus Cathedral is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the Prague skyline. Its Gothic stonework, unusual clocks and Baroque copper dome reveal a story that unfolded over several centuries.
During our Charles Bridge & Prague Castle Tour, we introduce you to St Vitus Cathedral and explain its importance to Czech history. After the tour, you can usually visit the Great South Tower independently and climb its 287 steps to the viewing gallery, subject to current opening conditions and a separate admission fee.
But why does the tower look so different from the spires of a typical Gothic cathedral? Why did its construction take so long? And what does Prague’s most famous bell have to do with one of the worst floods in the city’s modern history?
The Beginning of St Vitus Cathedral
Construction of the present Gothic cathedral began in 1344, when Prague was elevated to the rank of an archbishopric. The foundation stone was laid by King John of Bohemia, while his son, Charles IV, became the project’s most important patron.
Charles had spent part of his youth in France and wanted Prague to possess a cathedral worthy of its growing political and religious importance. The first architect, Matthias of Arras, brought French Gothic influences to the project. He was later succeeded by Peter Parler, who gave the cathedral many of its most distinctive architectural features.
Progress was slow. Prague was being transformed into an imperial capital, and the cathedral was only one of many ambitious construction projects taking place under Charles IV and his successors.
After approximately 75 years, the eastern section of the cathedral had been completed, together with part of the Great South Tower. The tower’s intended medieval appearance, however, remains uncertain.
The Hussite Wars and an Unfinished Cathedral
Construction came to a halt during the Hussite Wars, which began in 1419. The conflict brought political and religious upheaval to the Kingdom of Bohemia, while the cathedral workshop ceased operating.
The completed section was separated from the unfinished part of the building by a temporary wall. Although there were later attempts to continue the work, the cathedral remained incomplete for centuries.
You can learn more about the Hussite movement and its influence on Prague during our Old Town & Jewish Quarter Tour.
The Great Fire of Prague Castle
More than a century later, another disaster struck.
In 1541, a devastating fire swept through Prague Castle and continued down the hill towards Malá Strana. The unfinished cathedral was badly damaged. The wooden structures inside the Great South Tower burned, while its original bells were destroyed by the intense heat.
King Ferdinand I ordered the restoration of the tower and the casting of new bells. The most important of them became known as Zikmund, or Sigismund.
Zikmund – the Largest Bell in the Czech Republic
The Zikmund Bell was successfully cast in 1549 by the bellmaker Tomáš Jaroš. Weighing approximately 15 tonnes, it is the largest bell in the Czech Republic.
Its surface is richly decorated with religious images and representations connected with Ferdinand I and his wife, Anna. Several bell ringers are required to set it in motion, and its powerful sound can be heard across a large part of central Prague. Today, Zikmund is rung only on selected important religious and national occasions.
According to an old legend, if the bell’s clapper breaks, a disaster will soon befall the Czech lands.
In June 2002, the clapper broke while the bell was being rung for the feast of St Vitus. Two months later, Prague was hit by a catastrophic flood that inundated large parts of the historic centre. It became one of the most destructive natural disasters in the city’s modern history.
Coincidence or prophecy? We will leave that for you to decide.
Why Does the Tower Have Two Clock Faces?
The Great South Tower was largely completed during the reign of Rudolf II at the end of the 16th century. His initial, the letter R, can still be seen above the central window, behind an elaborate gilded grille.
The tower’s clock is particularly unusual because it uses two separate faces.
The upper dial indicates the hours, while the lower one divides each hour into four quarters. Together, the two dials perform a similar function to the hour and minute hands of a modern clock.
Visitors climbing the tower can also see part of the historic clock mechanism protected inside a transparent case.
A Gothic Tower with a Baroque Dome
The Great South Tower originally had a Renaissance-style top, but it was badly damaged by lightning in the 18th century.
The reconstruction was entrusted to Nikolaus Pacassi, a court architect associated with Empress Maria Theresa. The upper section was partially dismantled and replaced with the viewing gallery, copper-covered dome and spire that we see today.
This explains the tower’s unusual appearance. Its monumental lower section is predominantly Gothic, while its upper section is unmistakably Baroque.
At the very top stands a two-tailed Bohemian lion serving as a weather vane. Together with the spire, it brings the tower to a height of approximately 100 metres.
Later architects sometimes regarded the Baroque addition as awkward and proposed replacing it with a Gothic spire. These plans were never realised.
When Was St Vitus Cathedral Finally Completed?
Although construction began in 1344, St Vitus Cathedral was not completed until 1929 – almost 600 years later.
During the 19th- and 20th-century completion of the cathedral, there was renewed discussion about rebuilding the Great South Tower in a purely Gothic style. In the end, its Baroque dome was preserved.
That decision gave Prague one of its most distinctive architectural landmarks. Like the city itself, the tower was not created according to one single master plan. It developed gradually, combining different periods, styles and historical ambitions.
Its slightly eccentric appearance is precisely what makes it so interesting.
Can You Climb the Great South Tower?
The viewing gallery of the Great South Tower offers impressive panoramic views over Prague Castle, Malá Strana, the Vltava River and the historic centre.
Reaching it requires climbing 287 steps, and there is no visitor lift. Access to the tower requires a separate ticket and may be affected by the season, weather conditions, religious events or temporary closures. Check the current opening information before planning your visit.
The climb is demanding, but the view from the top is one of the finest in Prague.
Discover Prague Castle with a Local Guide
Join our Charles Bridge & Prague Castle Tour to explore two of Prague’s most important landmarks with an experienced local guide.
We will take you across Charles Bridge, through the historic streets of Malá Strana and up to Prague Castle. Along the way, you will hear the stories behind the monuments, rulers, artists and events that shaped the city.
After the tour, you can continue exploring the castle independently or climb the Great South Tower to see Prague from above.
Book the Charles Bridge & Prague Castle Free Tour
Would You Prefer a Private Prague Castle Tour?
If you would like to explore the castle at your own pace, you can also book a private Prague tour.
A private tour allows us to adapt the route to your interests, spend more time at St Vitus Cathedral and focus on the parts of Czech history that fascinate you most. It is an excellent option for families, groups of friends and travellers looking for a more personal experience.
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