Torre delle Polveri
براغ
The Powder Tower is one of the finest Gothic gates in Prague. Begun in 1475, it marks the start of the Royal Route, the road of the royal processions to the Castle.
A new gate for the Old Town
In the Middle Ages the Old Town was enclosed by walls and several gates. On this spot stood an old gate, by then falling apart. In 1475 the first stone of the new tower was laid.
From 1478 the work passed to Master Matěj Rejsek, who also took care of the sculptures. Soon after, the king went back to live at the Castle and the tower was left unfinished.
From kings to gunpowder
The road from eastern Bohemia entered the city here. The royal processions also passed through here: the gate is the start of the Royal Route. In the early 1700s the tower served as a gunpowder store, and that is where its name comes from.
How we see it today
In 1757 the decorations were damaged during a siege. Its present look dates from 1875–1886, when the architect Josef Mocker completed it in Neo-Gothic style. Sculptors such as Bohuslav Schnirch and Ludvík Šimek worked with him.
The façades are decorated with kings and saints. At the corners there are lions with the coat of arms of the Old Town. A stone staircase leads up to the gallery, 44 metres high.
Even today the tower is the ideal starting point for discovering the Old Town. From the gallery you can see the roofs, towers and domes of the centre. In the evening the gate is lit up and looks even taller.
