No More Free Rides: Prague’s Paternoster Now Requires a Ticket

The historic Paternoster elevator in Prague’s Old Town Hall will reopen its doors to tourists in June, but this time with a fee.

As iDNES reports, tickets will cost around CZK 250 and will be managed by Prague City Tourism (PCT). PCT will also organize guided tours that include the elevator.

The decision to charge for entry comes after a surge in tourist interest a few years ago, largely fueled by a popular video guide. The influx of visitors caused damage to the elevator and disrupted operations at the Town Hall.

The authorities have since modified the area to restrict access to other parts of the building from the elevator.

Paternosters, a unique elevator design with continuously circulating cabins, are no longer considered elevators under Czech regulations. This allows them to continue operating without needing expensive upgrades to meet modern elevator safety standards.

However, the lack of safety features and the large number of tourists unfamiliar with how to use them safely led to concerns about damage and potential injuries.

These once-ingenious creations were invented in the 1860s by Peter Ellis, an architect from Liverpool, England. They were the world’s only “continuously moving” elevators.

Popularly used in government buildings and stores in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe, they captured the imagination of many, including writers and filmmakers who featured the contraption in their work.

The production of paternoster lifts came to a halt in the 1970s due to safety concerns. There are currently 68 of these models in Czechia, about half of which are located in Prague.

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