KLEMENTINUM - Baroque Library and Astronomical Tower

ABOUT TOUR

A unique sightseeing route along a part of the former Jesuit dormitory Clementinum takes you to the Astronomical Tower and the annex that connects it to the northern wing of the Clementine complex. In it, with a guide, you can take a look at the Baroque Library, described as the most beautiful library hall in the world. The next stop on the sightseeing route is the Meridian Hall with period astronomical instruments on the 2nd floor of the Astronomical Tower. From its top, the giant Atlas has been looking down for three hundred years, carrying the sky full of stars on his shoulders. After all, they were never missing in Clementinum - in star atlases or in its halls, where even W. A. ​​Mozart himself walked and played. The highlight of the tour is the ascent to the walkway of the longest continuously measuring meteorological station in the Czech lands.

Practical information

Children up to 15 years must be accompanied by an adult. Youth between the ages of 16 and 26 and senior citizens aged 65 and over must show proof of age with a valid ID. Family ticket is valid for 2 adults and up to 4 children (6-15 years old).

The guided tour is not wheelchair accessible, contains 172 steps, and there is no elevator available.

Opening hours

SIGHTSEEING ROUTE

includes a view into the Baroque Library, the Meridian Hall and the Astronomical Tower.

-The Baroque library hall is decorated with beautiful frescoes on the theme of science and art. In the hall there is a collection of foreign language printed theological literature and several large, historically valuable globes. The library’s collection includes 27 thousand volumes, mainly from the field of theology.

The Meridian Hall is located on the 2nd floor of the tower. This unique room was formerly used as a giant camera obscura, where with the help of a taut string high noon was determined. In the walls of the Meridian Hall, there are 2 original astronomical instruments, namely mural quadrants used to measure the position of the stars. 

-The 68-metre-high Astronomical Tower, which offers a magnificent view of the centre of Prague, houses an exhibition of historical measuring instruments and interesting facts about the history of the tower. Originally, since 1751 the observation tower was used for astronomical observations and it retained this function until 1938. Since 1752 it has also been associated with meteorological measurements, which became regular and systematic from 1775 onwards. For more than eighty years (1842-1928), it was also from here that the announcement of noon  was made to the inhabitants of Prague.

ENTRANCES TO THE AREA:

-Mariánské náměstí 5

-Charles 1

-Křižovnická street

Tours are guided only. Tour duration approx. 50 minutes.


The meeting point is located in the middle of the Klementinum complex, next to the Mirror Chapel.
Here are the coordinates 50.086590, 14.416713
With your purchased ticket, proceed directly to the ticket office and do not wait in line.

The Klementina campus is under the administration of the National Library of the Czech Republic, the tour is run by Prague City Tourism.