Gas lamps have returned to Prague's Nerudova Street

Prague - Today, gas lamps returned to the half of Prague's Nerudova Street. They were ceremoniously lit by representatives of the capital city and the first district. Currently, there are over 500 gas lamps in operation in Prague, primarily located along the Royal Route, which runs from the Powder Tower to Prague Castle. The lighting of the Royal Route should be completed next year.
    On the route that Czech kings traveled for their coronation at Prague Castle, gas lamps are still missing on Charles Bridge and in the upper part of Nerudova Street. The lighting is expected to conclude at Hradčanské Square.
    According to Deputy Mayor of Prague Pavel Klega, the city is considering introducing these lights in the future at the Castle Steps, on Kampa Street, and at Velkopřevorské Square. However, according to the mayor of Prague 1, Filip Dvořák, there is currently no money for this.
    Nostalgic gas light returned to Prague in 2002 when the first nine lamps were installed on Michalská Street. This year, the lanterns in Malá Strana were replaced. There are now 101 gas lamps on Mostecká Street and Malostranské Square, with another 46 in the first half of Nerudova Street. In addition to the Royal Route, lanterns can also be found on Ovocný and Uhelný Squares or on Rytířská and Železná Streets. They light up automatically, but on special occasions, such as the current Advent season, they are lit by hand using a long pole, as was done by lamp lighters in the past.
    The first gas lamps appeared in Prague in 1847. A hundred years later, there were around 10,000 of them in the streets. They were later replaced by electric lamps in connection with the transition from coal gas to natural gas. The last to be converted to electricity were the octagonal lamps in Hradčanské Square and Loretánská Street in April 1985.
    Prague is by no means the only Czech city where gas lamps are functioning again. They can also be found in Ostrava, Hradec Králové, or Plzeň. This method of lighting is also seen in many countries across Europe, particularly in front of important buildings or in historical parts of cities - in London in front of Buckingham Palace, in Berlin by Charlottenburg Palace, or in the center of Krakow.