Mirror Chapel, Clementinum

Mirror Chapel, Clementinum tickets: which one to buy

The Mirror Chapel is part of the Clementinum, a vast baroque complex in Prague's Old Town, near the Charles Bridge, and it is visited on a guided tour of the Clementinum, which also includes the Baroque Library Hall and the Astronomical Tower; tickets are sold at the entrance and online, and tours run at set times. The chapel is also a popular venue for classical concerts, held most evenings, and a concert ticket is an excellent way to see the chapel in full.

Walking tours of Prague's Old Town pass the Clementinum on the way between the Old Town Square and the Charles Bridge. The Clementinum today houses the National Library of the Czech Republic. Photography is not allowed in the Baroque Library Hall, which is viewed from the doorway. Concerts in the Mirror Chapel feature music by Mozart, Vivaldi and Dvořák. Concert tickets are sold at the Clementinum entrance and by staff in period costume on the nearby streets.

Visiting Mirror Chapel, Clementinum: what to see

The Clementinum was founded by the Jesuits in the sixteenth century as a college, and it grew into one of the largest building complexes in Europe, with churches, libraries, courtyards and an observatory. The Mirror Chapel was built in the early eighteenth century and completed in 1725, originally dedicated to the Annunciation. Its interior is decorated with gilded stucco, frescoes and, above all, mirrors set into the walls and ceiling, which reflect the light and create a sparkling effect. The chapel was used for the prayers of students and later for concerts, and Mozart is said to have played on its organ. The Baroque Library Hall, completed in 1722, is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, with painted ceilings, wooden shelves filled with old books and globes.

The Astronomical Tower, where weather records have been kept since 1775, offers views over the Old Town and the castle. The chapel's ceiling paintings show scenes from the life of the Virgin. The organ, in the gallery, dates from the eighteenth century. The mirrors were placed to reflect candlelight, creating a sense of infinite space. The Baroque Library Hall holds about twenty thousand books, mainly theological works. The Astronomical Tower is topped by a statue of Atlas holding the globe. The Meridian Hall, in the tower, was used to determine noon in Prague, signalled by a flag. The Clementinum's courtyards are quiet and elegant. The chapel's acoustics suit chamber music.

Mirror Chapel, Clementinum opening hours and the best time to go

The Clementinum is open daily, with tours every half hour in summer and less often in winter. Evening concerts in the Mirror Chapel are held most days throughout the year. Prague is busy from spring to autumn and during the Christmas markets, and the area around the Charles Bridge is crowded. Mornings are the best time for the tour. Allow about fifty minutes for the tour, and return in the evening for a concert, then walk across the Charles Bridge at night. The Charles Bridge, a few minutes' walk away, is quietest at dawn, when photographers gather to catch the light.