The Tower is the gateway to the famous Charles Bridge from the east side of the Vltava river. Completed before 1380 as a part of the fortifications, it’s considere one of the most beautiful Gothic gate in Europe. It is the work of the architect Peter Parler, who also designed the Charles Bridge and part of St. Vitus Cathedral. It took 25 years and around 100 stonemasons to build the tower.
The tower rises nearly 50 metres high. A spiral staircase with 136 stairs leads from the gateway entrance up to the top with a great panormatic views.
Like other Gothic architectural works, this tower hides a numerous symbols, that show the way of thinking of the architects of the time and the rulers themselves (the commissioners of the building). They stored their esoteric and other knowledge in stone using symbols, sacred geometry, secret inscriptions, or numerical relationships.
Once completed, the tower was protected not only by the strength of its walls, but also by an infinite magic formula that protected the structure against demons. It was read from both ends equally:
„Signa te, signa, temere me tangis et angis.“
An evil spirit attempting to read it is said to get caught in a magical trap, an endless loop, get tired and abandon their evil intentions towards the bridge.
On the feast day of St. Vitus (15 June), a symbolic phenomenon occurs when the shadow of the lion's head falls on the shield with the image of the eagle below it. Symbolically, the connection between Bohemia and Moravia is confirmed.
Other example is the placement of other statues, their number and the number of decorative elements has a hidden meaning related to astrology.
It is also worth mentioning the mysterious statue of the so-called Tower Man from the middle of the 15th century, placed on the column at the top of the staircase. The significance of the statue and its origin are still disputed, as there are no archival reports. Apparently, the statue embodies a towerman guarding the entrance to the tower. A large key hangs from his belt on his left side, and a big knife on the other.
The first floor of the tower used to be a guardhouse, the second floor served as a prison for debtors from rich families, usually naughty sons whose fathers refused to pay their debts.
Unfortunately, the tower also witnessed sad moments. In 1621, the beheaded heads of twenty-seven executed Czech lords were exhibited here. They were removed after ten years, secretly buried in an unknown place. They have not been found yet.
If you visit the Tower, you will find something interesting on the second floor. There are 7 mascarons which nobody knows their meaning. And you have a chance to guess who they are.
For more than 600 years these 7 faces made of stone have been watching down from the Tower. Are they just a coincidence or they are part of a serious symbolism bearing some deeper meaning?
If you want to lern more and guess the mascarons take this tour with entrance ticket to the tower!
