Overview

Rising from the Old Town side of Charles Bridge, this Gothic, pointy-tipped structure (built in 1373) is flanked by sculptures of St. Vitus and Charles IV. It is open to the public and offers excellent views of the Old Town, the Vltava River and the castle can be enjoyed upon climbing the narrow staircase. The tower was used to show off the heads of twelve Protestant leaders in 1621 after their execution, and was also the site of the final conflict of the Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Opening hours vary seasonally.