Top Historical landmarks in Josefov, Czech Republic

An important piece of Art Nouveau architecture dating back to 1908-1911. Since 1945, it has been the seat of the Prague City Hall and Prague’s Mayor. The Grand Hall is the venue for Prague council meetings, seminars, conferences, and gala events. Exhibitions are occasionally held here. The building is one of the most attractive camera lens targets for visitors to the city.

Scams for tips
I wasn’t asked to tip anywhere in Prague as it’s not common but I wasn’t even asked. They put in a tip in the bill then randomly read through your bill quickly to get you to say ok and then take the machine themselves and hit yes to everything to scam for tips. It is more the principle of deception by far than the money. I would have rather given to one of the homeless there, so ruined our overall experience.

had fun with the elevator, please tourists : don't break it down

They have a small kosher shop with a variety of food (cheese, meat, snacks, and other food items). We also ordered food for Shabbat to go. They had everything ready for us to pick up on Friday and the food was very good.

this place is now surrounded with high end brand shops

Good places for make nice photos

19-May 2023: sign posted outside the building said the lift is out of order. Probably because of all the tourists.

City Hall Paternoster Lift.

Considering it’s very rare lift still exists today, it is indeed a fun ride of this lift from Ground to 4th floor and you should gone over the top and around the bottom (full cycle) to experience this lift. A must experience lift without pay a single cent.

Erected in the 15th century, whereby Kafka is known to live there between 1.889-1.896

Caution! Many tourists in the area!

The House at the Minute at number 3 (Dům U Minuty) is undoubtedly one of the most dazzling houses you will encounter on our free Prague walking tour. It was originally a late-Gothic house from the 15th century that received a Renaissance makeover in 1564.
The house is famous for its numerous beautiful sgraffito etchings that were added to the facade in 1610. The white etchings on the black facade depict Habsburg rulers like Philip II of Spain, Rudolph II, and Maxmilian II, among others along with scenes from Greek mythology and references to biblical and Renaissance legends.
The house has served many purposes and has had varied names. At one time it was an apothecary and called “The House at the White Lion” for the sculpture of the white lion at the corner.
The house also once served as a tobacconist shop, and the current name, “House at the Minute” was taken from the word ‘minute,’ i.e., very tiny, referring to the diminutive pieces of tobacco sold there.
It is also famous for being the childhood home of Franz Kafka and his family in the late 19th century.

Not allowed to go to section A and B. Only can go to Section C which is to the top of the tower. Cost is 60 Koruna.

Delicious pizza! Perfect pitstop on the Old Town Square.

Limited but tasty Gluten Free options available.

The Jewish Town Hall in Josefov, Prague, was constructed adjacent to the Old New Synagogue on the corner of Maiselova and Červená Ulice in 1586 in Renaissance style under the sponsorship of Mayor Mordechai Maisel. It acquired its Rococo facade in the 18th century.

To be honest to much money for nothing much to see. The entrance for two synagogues, Jewish town hall and cemetery is around €15 per person and besides that you have to pay old- new synagogue entrance. I’ve been to many places in Europe and not all Jewish communities have visiting fees or if they do have it’s something symbolic. There is a reduced price for students but it’s still too high if you ask me. I only paid the visit for old-new synagogue and it was around seven euros and it still over priced.

One of the interesting buildings in Old Town Square with its unique design. This one is located close to the Astronomical Clock and the Old Town hall entrance.

I could not belive how much I have to pay for see empty synagogues and and few graves. This was ridiculous, Jewish district is the least interesting place in Prague to me and the most expensive.

I love the way this building looks! I want this to be my wallpaper in my room

Beautiful building. The paternoster lift inside is a must see! Through the main entrance doors and take either the corridor to the left or right and walk straight through to the other end of the building where you will see the lift. You must ride a full loop on the lift. It was not overcrowed with tourists, in fact we were the only people there. Great experience and well worth the visit!.

The Council House in Maislova Street 25 is one of the few preserved construction landmarks in former Jewish Town. Fortunately this building was not affected by urban renewal statute for Capital City of Czech Kingdom, Prague, which was signed by Franc Joseph I. in Vienna on 11th February 1893. The Council House building and even it´s 27,5 m tall spirelet are not too dominant features. It is because they are surrounded by high housing blocks that were built on the sites of previously demolished old buildings around 1900. Also Jews did not paid attention to their Council House and their houses. Their synagogues were always prioritized by the Jew community. They were used not only as the most respective embassies for congregational and spiritual centre but they were also places for administration of panel, judicial and last but not least scholastic affairs.

Židovská radnice je původní radní síň a byla zbudována primasem Židovského města Mordechajem Maislem v letech 1570 - 1577 s vedlejší Vysokou synagogou. V r. 1648 pomáhala židovská obec bránit Karlův most proti Švédům. Získala tím právo, postavit si hodinovou věž. Je krásná se zelenou bání a hrotem. Ve štítu směrem do Červené ulice jsou umístěny druhé hodiny. Zajímavé je, že hodiny s hebrejským písmem se pohybují v obráceném směru, tak jak se čte, zprava doleva. Radnice byla v r. 1763 pozdně barokně upravena. V r. 1908 se rozšiřovalo jižní křídlo. Sídlí zde Rada židovských náboženských obcí v České republice.

City Hall Paternoster Lift.
First thing to note is that the lift is inside the City Hall building, as such it is only accessible after 10:00 Monday to Friday.
If you go through the huge doors on the front of the building head to either the left or right to get to the other end of the building where the lift is.
As this is the City Hall it feels very strange wandering through unchallenged, if feels like you should be here. That said we did nod to a couple of office workers who were probably thinking ‘odd tourists’. You can go through the door on the end of the building near the lift but this isn’t as much fun.
From the ground floor it goes up 4 floors but there are none below... that said you can stay on the lift after it passes the last stop... If you dare...
No, it’s fine really and you really can’t say you’ve ridden a Paternoster unless you’ve gone over the top and around the bottom.

Had nice lunch at Kafka's childhood home. They really should milk the location better, as I didn't find out the history until afterward. Pizza was thin crust, fairly good, and minestrone soup was excellent.

The paternoster is working as of late May 2017! My 4 year old daughter loved it!

Also right next to it is a restaurant ("bufet") with super cheap meals (options change daily) and tasty snacks. They accept credit cards! Only open until 3 PM most days and 2 PM on Friday. They also have Coke for half the price as all the touristy spots just a few minutes walk away.

Keeping a watchful eye over Josefov is the tower of the Jewish Town Hall with its 2 distinctive clocks. It’s a picturesque site of the Jewish Town Hall, a building that sits on a busy intersection that contains historic synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery. One of the clocks on the tower feature Roman numerals that we often see in our standard clocks. The other, Hebrew numerals with anticlockwise movement which is quite an interesting juxtaposition.