Discover the Enchanting World of Bells: Explore the Bell-Ringers and Museum in Vrchotové Janovice

Bells serve as carriers of news, musical instruments, and artistic expressions that are a part of human life from the moment we’re born until we die. It’s a concept we can all relate to; remember the common saying about someone’s edge being “ringing” which refers to a person’s final moments.

This time, in our quest to escape boredom, we are diving into the traditions of Czech bell-making – with the fascinating sounds of chimes and marvelous bells awaiting us in every line.

Where can you witness and listen to bells in person?

The earliest bells were found through archaeological digs in Nineveh, the ancient capital of Assyria. These bells date back to the 3rd millennium BC, while even older ceramic bells have been discovered in China. However, it was the rise of Christianity that really helped bells become widespread and evolve; in our own country, the initial bells were rung at the close of the 9th century from Great Moravia and in the 10th century from Libice in Slavkov. If you’re eager to learn almost everything about bells, make your way to Vrchotové Janovice. Inside the former water fortress, there’s an exhibition featuring a historical collection of bells at the National Museum. This unique bell-making exhibition in the Czech Republic showcases over 150 pieces, including masterpieces from ancient bell-makers, such as huge bells from church towers, uncommon baptismal fonts, bells, knockers, and even small table or altar bells. The tour is enhanced by the ringing of bells, the clanging of bell ringers, and music from different periods.

You can also schedule visits to some bell-ringing workshops. The most well-known is probably the Dytrych family bell workshop located in Brodek u Přerova. In Deštné v Orlických horách, don’t miss the chance to visit the Atelier of bell-maker Jan and potter Barbara, also known as Mr. and Mrs. Seda, who are famous for producing the unique Deštenska chimes. If you’re curious about the traditional craft of bell-making, you can learn more at Josef Tkadlec’s bell studio in Halenka. You can visit this workshop as well, by making an appointment to see the master bell-ringer in action.

Bell-ringers and a timeless technology

While we know that ancient bells were made from sheet metal, bell ringers eventually transitioned to using cast bells – and the technique of using bell metal along with molds for molten metal has remained unchanged for thousands of years. Though the technology has seen some modernization, the craftsmanship itself hasn’t altered much. According to Petr Rudolf Manoušek (*1957), who may be the last master bell-ringer in the Czech Republic, a bell is fundamentally a percussion musical instrument. Hence, its creation doesn’t start with a technical sketch; instead, it’s influenced by the intended tone.

The bell’s sound is shaped by its design, which means the thickness of the bell’s walls and precise calculations of its proportions must be carefully considered to ensure the best acoustic qualities.

When creating new bells that are meant to blend in with older ones, it’s essential to keep in mind their tuning to avoid disharmony among the bells. Bells are crafted from bell brass, a special alloy that consists of 22-23% pure tin and 77-78% pure copper. Mr. Manoušek notes that no other metals should be used; years of experimentation have confirmed that only copper gives the best results for pure bell-metal. So why contemplate making bells with steel, tin, zinc alloys, or even cast iron? Simply because brass is quite costly. Nevertheless, even in the 1960s, some manufacturers produced cast iron bells of decent quality, but they couldn’t compare in sound quality to a classic brass bell, which remains unmatched in its sound.

Molding the bell and its heart

An equally crucial step is the careful crafting of the mold used for casting the bell: it cannot be created through guesswork and then adjusted afterward. The mold must be buried within a casting pit, packed with sand, and molten bell clay is then poured into the slot specifically for casting. This task requires extreme precision, as the bell-maker has only one chance to get it right. Any mistakes made during casting can only be discovered once the cooled bell is taken out of the mold.

However, the bell-maker’s job isn’t finished yet; they also need to create the heart of the bell. This heart is made using softer iron that has been specially treated to produce a ringing sound without echoing too loudly. Bell ringers can shape it into many different forms depending on the bell it’s intended for. It is attached to a inner ear, a loop that’s shaped into the bell during its production, using leather belts. These belts are typically crafted from cowhide. A well-made bell will last for many years without breaking down, but the same cannot be said for the heart: it tends to wear out quicker than the bell itself and should be inspected regularly.

Zikmund, the bell from St. Vitus Cathedral

Not many people know that the most renowned and largest bell in the Czech Republic is called Zikmund, and it can be found in St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle. In 1549, it was crafted by a bell-maker and metalworker named Tomáš Jaroš, who operated his workshop in Mihulka, which is one of the prominent towers of the castle’s northern fortifications. Zikmund stands 203 cm tall, with a base diameter of 256 cm and weighs an estimated 13-18 tons. To ring it properly, six bell ringers are required – four swing the bell while two manage the heart. Nowadays, you can only hear Zikmund ringing during significant church celebrations like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, or during state funerals.

It is often said that when Sigmund’s heart breaks, misfortune will fall upon the Czech lands. Unfortunately, the bell has had its share of bad luck: as early as 1592, the original heart became detached while ringing for the funeral of William of Rosenberg. Both Sigmund and its maker, Tomáš Jaroš, met with misfortune as well: he was also commissioned to create the Singing Fountain in the Royal Gardens, which still stands at the Belvedere. Unfortunately, he never received the 1400 gold pieces he was promised. The debt was so significant to King Maximilian II. that the monarch became resentful and sent him to Košice to cast cannons for the war against the Turks. Tragically, he passed away there within a year, with his last known records being from the spring of 1570.

Over the centuries, the heart of the bell has broken in the years 1670, 1734, and 1797. The most recent break occurred while ringing for St. Vitus’ Day in June 2002, just two months before devastating storms and floods ravaged much of Prague and the Czech Republic.Petr Rudolf Manoušek crafted a new heart for Zikmund, which was first rung on September 28 that same year during St. Wenceslas Day.

Memorial Bell #9801

As of 2022, the largest bell with the largest lower diameter was St. Sigismund, but that title has now changed: the memorial Bell #9801 has a diameter of 258 cm. This bell was created for Prague by Austrian bellmaker Grassmayr, whose history goes back to the late 16th century. Although it is lighter than Sigismund, weighing 9,801 kg, it carries its own symbolism: it commemorates the 9,801 bells that were taken from the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia during the Second World War and melted down by the Nazis. Once the revitalization of Rohanský ostrov in Karlín is completed, the association Sanctus Castulus, a group of Czech bell ringers and enthusiasts, will place a repository for confiscated bells where they used to be during the war.

The good news is that some of the bells were spared, and The Germans are giving them back. The first bell returned to Write to at Opava; it was crafted in 1649 in the workshop of bellmaker Hans Knauf, weighs 350 kilograms, and has a diameter of 82 centimeters. Through the project Bells of Peace and Peace for Europe, all bells that can be returned are being restored, along with new bells that will replace the original ones on church steeples. These bells will carry information about their predecessor and will be adorned with a relief of two doves, symbolizing peace along with a Latin text of the prayer surrounded by twelve stars, which represent a united Europe;

The latest bell: the Dutch cast the Liberty Bell for Prague from Russian weapons

One of the highlights from the first official visit of the Dutch monarch King Willem-Alexander and his wife Máxima in June 2025 was the dedication of the special Liberty Bell, crafted in the Netherlands for the Church of the Most Holy Salvator located in Prague’s Old Town. This bell was made using pieces from Russian shell casings collected in Ukraine. The bell was produced by Dutch bellmaker Royal Eijsbouts, with the idea initiated by the Dutch Embassy in Prague and supported by Prague Sanctus Castulus (St. Hastal).

During a brief ceremony attended by President Peter Paul Roman Catholic priest Tomáš Halík, the bell was blessed with the quote from the Bible stating that swords should be transformed into farming tools. The Bell of Liberty stands as a symbol of solidarity with Ukraine and all those who are being persecuted or harmed. This bell will remain a significant part of our future and share its message across the globe from the heart of Prague. The bell’s body has numerous small crosses etched into it, representing the casualties from the conflict in Ukraine. The unique steel heart of this bell was created in a foundry in Ostrava, incorporating a piece of a Russian S-300 missile that fell in Ukraine.

The oldest bells

Throughout the Second World War, many bell towers, churches, and chapels in Bohemia and Moravia stopped ringing. The Nazis stole and destroyed almost 90 percent of the bells in the Czech Republic. According to campaigner Jaroslav Dobrodinsky, in Bohemia only 13% of bells from before the war still exist, while in Moravia, it’s only six percent that have survived. Which of the remaining bells are the oldest?

It is believed that the habit of marking years on bells became common in the 15th century, but many inscriptions have faded or the numbers have worn away over the centuries. If we only follow the year inscriptions, the oldest bell would be the one located in the museum in Cheb (1286), followed by the Vilém bell from the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Havlíčkův Brod (1335), which experts recognize as the oldest working bell in the Czech Republic, Ave Maria bell from the Minorite monastery in Benešov (1322), and a bell from the Church of St. Thomas in Brno (1393).

When do bell ringers celebrate?

Most bells now come with electronic controls and automatic ringing mechanisms, leading to a decline in the number of traditional bell ringers. Still, passionate volunteers enjoy ringing bells by hand, making it a fulfilling hobby for them. For instance, at St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, there are twenty-three bell ringers, including fifteen who ring regularly and eight who occasionally assist in ringing.

The bell ringers have their own special day to celebrate: Bell Ringers Day is marked annually on April 30, though some bell ringers’ groups also recognize September 12, which is in honor of their patron saint, St. Quido.

Are you familiar with our notable bells?

• • In our search for exciting chimes, one of the most famous is at Prague’s Loreto, designed by Claudy Fremy. A wealthy merchant from the Lesser Town, Eberhard of Glauchov, gifted it to the Loreto, with installation and connection to the tower clock completed by Prague clockmaker Petr Neumann. Since 1695, its charming sounds have echoed above the rooftops of Hradčany. Additionally, the chimes at Jindřiška Tower stand out as they serve as a chamber instrument to listen to in an enclosed space.

• • The largest bells are highlighted by the St. Wenceslas Bell, which hangs in the main tower of St. Wenceslas Cathedral in Olomouc. Weighing in at 8,156 kg and boasting a diameter of 242 cm, it was crafted in Vienna in 1827 by F. Seltenhoffer.

• • Another notable giant is the Augustine bell, located in the White Tower in Hradec Králové. This bell weighs nearly ten tons and has dimensions of 169 cm in height and 206 cm in width, having been cast in 1509 by bell-maker Ondřej Žáček.

• • The queen of Prague’s bells is Marie, located in the tower of the Church of the Mother of God in front of Týn in the Old Town. Crafted in 1553 from the workshop of Tomáš Jaroš, it weighs 6,450 kg.

• • The heaviest bell in the Black Tower in České Budějovice is the Bummerin, which is 147 cm tall and weighs 3,500 kg, with a diameter of 182 cm. It was cast in 1723 by Silvio Kreuz from Linz. The name evokes similarities to the much larger Pummerin bell from St. Stephen’s Church in Vienna. Interestingly, the second largest bell in Europe weighs 21 tons and was crafted in 1711 from recycled Turkish cannons used in the last unsuccessful siege of Vienna by the Turks.

• • Throughout the Czech Republic, you can find uniquely designed rebel or Hussite bells, also known as “high spin” bells. These bells are suspended upside down, with their movement operated by pedals. Rebel bells can be viewed in the bell tower in Kouřim and in the bell tower in Rovensko pod Troskami.

• • In the Chapel of St. Elizabeth in Harrachov, there’s a small bell measuring 50 cm in height and weighing 10 kg, which looks straight out of a fairy tale. Made in 1916 by local glassmakers, it is crafted from glass, while the heart is wooden and covered in leather to prevent it from breaking when it strikes the walls. This unique bell can be heard during glass festivals at the Harrachov Glassworks.

• • The second largest bell in Moravia is Zuzana, hanging in the tower of St. James Church in Jihlava. This 7.1-ton bell is said to have been cast outside the city walls at the Gate of the Mother of God in 1563 by a Prague bell-maker Brikcí of Cimperk. The name Zuzana was assigned to the bell by a wealthy Jihlava lady who contributed a significant part of her wealth for its casting, supposedly to atone for her past mistakes. An old legend from Jihlava says that “as soon as the bell was hung on the tower, Susanna sat down on a stool between the doors of the temple and had the bell rung alive.”