Repairs to the Old Town Hall will begin with the construction of a fence and scaffolding

Prague - Repairs of the Old Town Hall in Prague will begin today with the construction of a fence. At the beginning of next week, scaffolding will be erected around the historic building. From May, tourists will not have access to the town hall tower. Next year, the astronomical clock will also undergo reconstruction.

The tower was last repaired in the 1980s. The Old Town Hall, located in the historic center of the city, is among the most visited tourist sites in the metropolis. Ninety percent of the work will be on the exterior of the tower, and the chapel's oriel and walkway will also be renovated.

The tower will be closed to tourists from May to November of this year. Last year, it was visited by over 860,000 tourists. The main attraction for tourists, the Old Town Astronomical Clock, will be avoided by scaffolding and will be out of service for only a few months next year when it is scheduled for reconstruction. During the repairs, it will be replaced by a projection.

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