Gas lamps illuminated the streets of Prague for almost a century and a half. The latter did not go out until 1985, although at the end of the 19th century František Křižík began to install his electric arc lamps in the town. At that time, however, the gas lamps had already revolutionized – in addition to the dim light of one flame in which there were six stockings, which emitted a light bright enough to keep the gas by the side of electricity. “Gas lamps have been in symbiosis with electric ones for many decades. Gas lamps were lit in the old streets and electric lamps in the new streets, “said Jan Žákovec.

After World War II, however, coexistence ended. Electricity began to prevail, and in that year the original gas lamps went out for good. But the electric monopoly lasted only sixteen years. Then the gas came to the fore again, though it was no longer about natural gas, but about natural gas. Since 2002, it has illuminated the entire Royal Route, including Charles Bridge, which is the only bridge in the world with gas lighting.

According to the director of the Gas Museum, conservationists prefer to illuminate the historical part of Prague with gas. After all, Prague is far from the only ancient city that has returned to gas. “Gas lamps, it’s fire, it’s flames. “Fire has always been closer to the human eye than cold, inert electricity,” he reasoned.

There are almost 700 modern gas lamps in Prague. They can be distinguished from electric ones by their glass cover. The electric lamp is made of frosted glass and the gas lamp is made of clear glass. The lamps are switched on and off remotely by a signal from the central control room at the same time as the electric lamps. The ignition electronics open the gas supply from the street gas pipeline and the heating stockings ignite from the eternal flame.