Historic Prague tower taken off the market, as Prague Archbishopric weighs new options
The Prague Archbishopric has abandoned plans to sell the historic Jindřišská Tower in the heart of Prague after spending several years searching for a buyer. It will now negotiate exclusively with the city of Prague, although it has not said whether the discussions will concern a sale, a lease, or some other form of cooperation.
The 65.7-metre tower is one of Prague's best-known landmarks. Built in the late 15th century as the bell tower of the Church of St. Henry and St. Kunhuta, it is the tallest free-standing bell tower in the Czech capital. Over the centuries it has served not only as a church belfry but also as a military watchtower during the 1648 Swedish siege of Prague, surviving repeated damage from artillery fire, storms and later undergoing extensive reconstruction.
"I've never been inside, I just walk past it. I've always found it strange that there's a restaurant in there and that it isn't fully open to visitors like the Powder Tower," says Martin, who passes Jindřišská Tower every day on his way to work.
The tower is owned by the Prague Archbishopric, which no longer uses the property, and has been trying to sell it for several years without finding a suitable buyer. The main hurdle is not just the high price –it was most recently offered for 75 million crowns - but also the complication of a lease that will take years to expire. Spokesperson for the Archbishopric, Pavel Schrötter recently announced that negotiations with all private buyers have ended and the Archbishopric will instead hold talks with Prague City Hall.
"We will proceed responsibly in deciding the tower's future, bearing in mind that it is an important cultural monument. Any decision on its future use should therefore be discussed with our partners, especially the City of Prague," Schrötter said.
The future of the tower has been contentious for several years. The Vatican approved its sale, but the plan drew criticism from Prague officials, the tower's long-term tenant, members of the public and parishioners of the neighbouring Church of St. Henry and St. Kunhuta, who launched a petition opposing the move.
The archbishopric and the city have already discussed the tower's future in the past. At the time, the Church sought CZK 100 million for the property, but Prague city councilor Adam Zábranský of the Pirate Party said the asking price was too high.
"The problem is that the entire building is leased until the end of 2044. The annual rent is just under half a million crowns, so financially it simply didn't make sense for the city. On top of that, we know the tower requires significant investment," he said.
Today, the tower houses a restaurant, an observation deck overlooking Prague's historic centre and a carillon, all operated by the current tenant under a long-term lease.
The archbishopric has not yet indicated whether it now wants to sell the tower to the city, lease it, or pursue another form of partnership that would preserve this historic landmark for future generations.
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