Prague by the Light of Gas Lamps
The first gas lamp in Prague and in the Czech territory first illuminated its surroundings on September 15, 1847 in the capital district of Karlín. On that day, only 200 gas lamps were lit on the main streets of the Old Town and New Town. Dozens more such lamps adorned shops and public buildings. And that was only the beginning.
Over the next two years, the total number of street gas lamps increased to 534. In addition, the most modern lamps of that period also appeared under the arcades of houses and in some hotels. Gas lamps gradually appeared not only in parks, gardens and on embankments, they also illuminated public toilets.
Architects and sculptors were involved in creating the appearance of the new light sources. In 1882, there were 16 lamps with eight branches, 11 four-branch candelabras and 55 gas lamps with three branches in Prague. Only two eight-branch ones have survived to this day – on Hradčany Square and Loreta Street, as well as one with four branches – on Dražického Square near Charles Bridge.
Gas street lamps began to lose their importance and be replaced by electric lamps in the late 19th – early 20th centuries. However, as late as 1940, the capital's streets were illuminated by 9,000 lamps of various sizes connected to the gasification system. But it was this period that became a turning point. The old lamps then began to disappear very rapidly. The last to be converted to electric lamps in 1985 were the two giant candelabras already mentioned on Hradčany Square and Loreta Street.
It seemed that the old lamps with a gas soul had come to an end. However, fate was kind to them and in 2002 an era of the revival of gas romance began. The first 9 lamps were returned to Prague's Michalská Street. By the end of 2010, gas hissed again in the lamps of Charles Bridge. And now Prague has 680 gas lamps.
"They are located along the entire Royal Route – at the Powder Gate, on Old Town Square, on Charles Bridge, which is the only bridge in the world fully illuminated by gas lamps," amateur lamplighter Jan Žákovec told Radio Prague. "And now we are standing on Hradčany Square near a historic street candelabra with eight branches. In 1882 there were sixteen such lamps in Prague. Now only two such candelabras have survived."
One lamp with eight branches stands on Hradčany Square in front of Prague Castle, and the second was installed very close by on Loreta Street. The height of the candelabra on Hradčany Square is 8 meters, the width is 4 meters.
"All street candelabras are lit via a central control panel. By hand, this can be done by agreement, in special cases," says Jan Žákovec. The Christmas holidays are undoubtedly such a special period.
"We don't appear on the streets every day, of course, but sometimes we take walks through Prague 'by the light of gas lamps.' We strive to prove that ancient gas lamps remain an inseparable part of the center of our city. And, of course, we want to demonstrate the craft of lamplighters. Today it has already disappeared. But in the past, lamplighters were part of the city's life, like night watchmen," says Jan Žákovec.
If you are lucky enough to meet a lamplighter on the streets, you can not only watch the professionals work, but also try yourself to "revive" a gas lamp using a long pole. "At the end of a bamboo pole there is a little hook, which, by pulling a special ring, opens the gas. At the end of the lamplighter's pole there is also a smoldering wick that ignites the flame. At that moment there is a characteristic pop. And in winter, the old lamps hiss characteristically due to the incoming gas. Unlike a 'dead' electric lamp, a living flame burns in a gas lamp."
As befits, a real lamplighter is dressed in a special uniform. Here is what Jan Žákovec said about this: "In the first half of the 20th century, when there were many gas lamps, lamplighters were professional employees of gas companies. They were even sometimes called 'keepers of the lamps.' And, naturally, they had their own costumes. We found old photographs of these uniforms, which were very similar to miners' uniforms, and ordered copies. So that everything is authentic!"