Prague is looking for a company that will repair the tower of the Old Town Hall

Prague - Prague is looking for a company to repair the tower of the Old Town Hall, including the astronomical clock and chapel. It will be a contract worth 47 million crowns excluding VAT. The city has published this in the public procurement bulletin. The Old Town Hall in the historic center of the city is among the most visited tourist sites in the metropolis.

"The reconstruction of the Old Town Hall tower is essential because it has been 30 years since the last modification," said city spokesperson Vít Hofman to ČTK. The poor condition of the monument has been affected primarily by the intense visitor traffic. Repairs could begin next year and will last for seven months. A recent resolution from the city council indicates that the work should be completed by the upcoming centenary of the independent Czechoslovak state, which the country will commemorate in October 2018.

It is not yet clear to what extent the reconstruction will limit tourist tours of the tower. The Old Town Hall is visited by more than 700,000 people annually, most of whom climb the town hall tower.

Builders and restorers will focus on all four facades of the medieval tower, the astronomical clock, and the chapel. The contract will also include new lighting for the tower's viewing platform, the historic clock, and external lighting for the chapel. The roof will be covered with iron-brod slate and copper sheets. There are also plans for partial interventions in the tower's and chapel's truss.

The Old Town Hall in Prague was established in 1338. It consists of a complex of several houses. Throughout 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.