30 years for one of the most controversial buildings in Prague

The Žižkov Tower - according to the American CNN, one of the ten ugliest buildings in the world. In spite of this unflattering ranking, it is still a very popular attraction among tourists. Its trial broadcast started on the 25th of March, 1991.

The tower in Žižkov, more than two hundred meters high, is the tallest building in the capital and has its supporters and opponents. The construction of the transmitter began on the 24th of November, 1985 and was already perceived as a controversial act. The park and especially part of the Jewish cemetery had to give way to the Žižkov transmitter.

The transmitter stands in Mahlerovy sady on the border of Prague's Žižkov and Vinohrady districts on the site of the old Jewish cemetery. The structure consists of three steel tubes, which carry a total of nine cabins, in which there is a restaurant and a hotel room. The transmission technology is then located on the top floor.

Building of the tower was a very controversial issue, in particular because the transmitter is standing in the old Jewish cemetery. The construction was thus supervised by representatives of the Jewish community. The remains, which were found during excavation work, were transported to the New Jewish Cemetery in Olšany. Nevertheless, some valuable graves and tombstones were completely destroyed.

In May 2000, the transmitter tower was adorned with "giant babies" that crawl up and down the transmitter tubes. It is the work of the artist David Černý. It met with a positive response among Prague residents and visitors. A total of ten toddlers measuring 3.5 and 2.6 meters and weighing around one hundred kilograms were permanently installed on the Žižkov transmitter in 2001.