Prague Castle - Mihulka Powder Tower (Prašná věž Mihulka)

Between the Vikárka Restaurant and the neighbouring Mladota’s House, there is a passage through to a small yard, from which you can access a part of the Northern fortification. It is dominated by a powder tower named Mihulka, with a diameter of 20 m and 44 m high. In later times, round towers were often called Mihulkas (translated as „little lamprey“), due to their similarity with the animal species of lampreys. As early as in the 13^th century, there was a tower in this place forming a part of the Castle’s Northern fortification bastion. Benedikt Ried built this tower as a part of the new Northern parkan fortification at the end of the 15^th century, and it was the mightiest canon bastion, but it was practically never used. In Renaissance, bell founder Tomáš Jaroš had its workshop here, the author of the Singing fountain by the Royal Summer House and of the Sigismund bell; in the era of Rudolf II, the tower was the seat of the alchemists’ laboratory; during the Thirty Years’ War it was used as a gun powder storage place, which also gave name to the Powder Bridge (Prašný most). During the Thirty Years’ War, the Swedish troops caused an explosion, which damaged the tower greatly. Later on, it was used as a dwelling for the St. Vitus parish clerks. In 1982, Mihulka was opened for public, when an interesting exposition was installed here, dealing with Medieval arts and crafts, namely the Renaissance metal foundry, astrology and alchemy at the court of Rudolf II, and The Castle’s late-Gothic fortification.

The name Mihulka originated in the 19^th century. Before that, the tower was called New Tower, Round Bastion, Laboratorium or Swedish Laboratorium.

On the 15^th December 2004, new permanent exposition of the Military History Institute was opened in Mihulka, mapping the military history of the Bohemian territory.

Prague Castle has been a National Cultural Monument since 1962.