The Old Town Astronomical Clock will return to a state from the 19th century after repairs

Prague - The Prague Astronomical Clock will return to its state from the late 19th century after renovations. Some parts will be newly painted, and the drive mechanism for the clock will also change. The existing electric system will be replaced by a drive using hemp ropes and stone weights, said clockmaker Petr Skála to reporters on the occasion of the commencement of the reconstruction. The restoration of the clock is part of the renovation of the town hall's exterior, costing nearly 50 million crowns. Modifications will also be made to the tower and chapel. They are expected to be completed by September next year.

"The clock will be disassembled down to the last component. It will be taken away for restoration work. When it returns, it will be purely metallic. It is Gothic blacksmith work," explained the clockmaker. The mechanism will be stripped of all the layers and modifications from the 20th century.

Currently, the clock is powered by an electric system with chains, which was created during repairs after World War II when the town hall was bombed. According to Skála, while they saved the clock to make it function, they did not return it to its original state. "The original drive, wooden rope drums, hemp ropes, and stone weights will be returned," he added.

However, the clock will not be more accurate after the repairs. "It is a Gothic, medieval machine. It was not built to show precisely the phenomena we see in the sky. It was a kind of moving depiction of the heavens. For a medieval person, it was an amazing spiritual thing," said Skála.

The clock will also be stripped of non-original modifications from the outside. The dials and statues will be cleaned and repainted, based on preserved historical descriptions of the clock. The underside of the canopy that covers the clock will also be newly painted.

From May 1, the town hall tower will not be accessible to tourists, as its repairs will mark the beginning of the general reconstruction of the town hall. Last year, over 860,000 people visited it, making it one of the most visited Prague landmarks. The roof, trusses, and the entire stone outer shell will be repaired. The unsuitable lighting on the tourist walkway will be changed, and grills will be added to the windows for security reasons.

Once the upper part of the tower is repaired, work will move to the area of the clock and chapel. Its spire leans away from the town hall towards the Old Town Square, so it must be secured and reinforced. The clock will be disassembled in December, and it is expected to return to the tower in May next year.

"Such a significant reconstruction of the Old Town Hall has not occurred since its inception over 400 years ago. The repairs will be divided into phases so that part of the town hall remains accessible to the public," said city councilor for culture Jan Wolf (KDU-ČSL/Trojkoalice) to reporters.

The parts of the town hall under renovation will be covered with a tarp featuring a photograph of the town hall and clock. The previously considered video mapping will not be possible according to Wolf. "The buildings opposite the town hall are not owned by the city. Moreover, it would only be visible at night and would later disturb the nighttime peace," added Wolf.

However, people can follow the reconstruction online. A special page has been established on the Prague website, which will also provide a live feed from a webcam aimed at the town hall tower.

The Old Town Hall in Prague was founded in 1338. It consists of a complex of several buildings. In the 20th century, several architectural competitions were announced for the reconstruction and completion of the town hall. Most aimed to fill the space left by the demolished neo-Gothic wing. However, all ended either without winners or the winning designs were never realized.