Tour of some parts of the Clementinum and a visit to the world's most beautiful library
Tour in the English language, with the exception: on weekdays, Czech language tours are at 5:00 p.m., and on weekends, Czech language tours are at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The route takes you to the Astronomical Tower and the extension that connects it to the northern wing of the Clementinum complex. Here, you will have a guided tour of the Baroque Library, described as the most beautiful library in the world.
You may view the Baroque Library but not enter it. The next stop on the tour is the Meridian Hall with period astronomical instruments on the 2nd floor of the Astronomical Tower. For three hundred years, the giant Atlas carrying a sky full of stars on his shoulders has been looking down from the top of the tower. These have never been missing in the Clementinum - neither in star charts nor in its halls, where even W. A. Mozart himself walked and played music. The highlight of the tour is the ascent to the gallery of the longest continuously measuring meteorological station in the Czech lands.
Highlights of the sightseeing route:
View (but no entry) of the Baroque library hall 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. The tower 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.
Included:
Entrance ticket with a view into the Baroque Library, the Meridian Hall, and the Astronomical Tower
Opening hours:
January - March Whole week 09.00 - 19.00
April - September Whole week 09.00 - 20.00
October-December Whole week 09.00 - 19.00
Important:
NOT ALL TOURS ARE IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE: on weekdays, Czech language tours are at 5:00 p.m., and on weekends, Czech language tours are at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
There is a high number of staircases, and a lift is not available
The sightseeing route is not wheelchair accessible
Tour is in the English language
Free admission for children under 5 years
Please note that the price of the ticket includes a service fee of 30 CZK (1,3 EUR)
Klementinum Baroque Library and Astronomical Tower
Address:
Klementinum 190 , Praha 1
Wheelchair access:
No
Astronomical Tower and Klementinum Baroque Library
One of the landmarks of the former Jesuit college is the Astronomical Tower, situated in the centre of the Klementinum (Clementinum) courtyards. The height of the tower from the base to the top is 68 metres, the circular viewing balcony at 52 metres can be reached by climbing 172 steps. The top of the tower, visible from afar, is adorned with a lead statue of Atlas carrying a celestial sphere on his shoulders. Around 1750, an important phase of astronomical and climatic measurements and observations began here.
You can also find one of the most beautiful Baroque libraries in the world in the Klementinum complex. The library hall with its large, historically valuable globes and beautiful fresco decorations by Josef Hiebel on the themes of science and art was completed in 1727. The library collection contains over 27,000 volumes of mostly foreign-language theological literature.
How to get there:
Accessibility by public transport:
metro A (green line) - Staroměstská station
tram - Karlovy lázně stop
Nearest car parking:
Parking Rudolfinum, Alšovo nábreží 12, Prague 1
There are two entrances:
a) one entrance leads from Mariánské Square (náměstí)
b) second entrance is situated in Karlova street, right next to the "Česká restaurace" restaurant
Overall rating:
Andrea Müllerné Madajcsek | April 22, 2026 | 11:00 (Wed)
The tour was very interesting. The guide was very kind, enthusiastic, and helpful. Everyone had enough time to look around and take photos of the library. The view from the tower is wonderful. It’s worth booking in advance.
