Town Belfry in Vimperk

The late Gothic Town Belfry dates from the early 16th century. After a fire that struck the Vimperk square, it was reconstructed in 1866, as the fire in 1861 had destroyed the roof, dome, and a large part of the structure. Like a finger pointed toward the heavens, the slender prismatic tower of the belfry rises above the medieval heart of Vimperk. From afar, it creates a unified silhouette with the neighboring dean’s church and, along with the castle on the hill, is one of the most prominent landmarks of the town. It is a late Gothic building from around 1500, a time of prosperity after Vimperk was promoted to town status. From that period, the stone entrance surround, the base with its Gothic cornice, and one original corbel have survived. The tower was reconstructed in 1866 after the devastating fire of 1861, which had destroyed the roof, the dome, and much of the Baroque decoration. The last remnants of what were likely valuable Baroque paintings on the tower façade were removed during renovations in 1909.

The original purpose of the building was to house bells that, with their majestic voice, announced regular, special, and extraordinary events in the life of the town. Every inhabitant knew the meaning of each type of bell ringing and could act accordingly. Over the centuries, the belfry has housed many bells, both large and small, including the ominous death knell. The oldest bell dated back to the 15th century, and the largest was hoisted up in the first half of the 18th century. The rare Gothic bell Maria Hilf, named after Our Lady of Help and cast in 1419, miraculously survived all wars and was returned to the belfry after restoration on October 22, 2010. A ceremonial moment came on November 30, 2013, when the new bell Inocenc rang for the first time, now accompanying Maria Hilf.

The impressive noonday ringing still offers an emotional experience that lingers in memory. Its sound floats over rooftops, across the church, and up to the castle like a sonorous bridge from the troubled and glorious past of Vimperk to our fast-paced present.