As a witness to turbulent times and watershed historical events in Prague, the bell, dated 1313, has become one of the ‘victims’ of World War II. Its fate was sealed during the final days of the Prague Uprising. Shortly before four o’clock in the afternoon of 8 May, the roof of the Old Town Hall, where the bell hung, was struck. It is an irony of fate that the surrender of the German troops was signed practically at the exact moment.
An exhibition dedicated to this remarkable museum exhibit, which, after decades, returns to its original location where it marked time and signalled danger, offers new findings about the circumstances surrounding the bell’s demise. Come view and explore its story, original fragments, and the faithful replica, along with its authentic sound, on the ground floor of the Old Town Hall starting from 5 May.
| January–March | Mon– Sun | 10 am – 7 pm |
| April–December | Mon– Sun | 9 am – 8 pm |
Old Town Square 1/3, 110 00, Old Town, Prague 1
Explore the efforts of museum professionals who have joined forces with modern technologies…
The Museum of Prague depository houses forty-six original shards from the bell of the Old Town Hall, which has been destroyed. These were scanned using 3D technology, printed, and assembled into a 1:4 scale model of the bell. This model revealed a new historical context: its destruction was caused not only by the town hall fire that led to the bell’s fall but also by a missile that struck it during the fighting.
Thanks to modern technologies and in collaboration with the internationally recognised bell connoisseur Rudolf Manoušek, the bell’s original sound has been recreated. It will resonate again on 5 May 2025 during an event commemorating the anniversary of the Prague Uprising, and on 8 May at four o’clock in the afternoon – the exact time when the bell perished eighty years ago.
