Exploring the Storytelling Chimneys

Have you ever thought about how a view without chimneys would look? Those tall, slender towers of brick and concrete that stick up from cities and factories are such a normal part of our skyline that we often only notice them when they’re gone. Yet, they tell stories of the hardworking people who built them, their bravery, and their creativity. Chimney Sweep Day, celebrated on 11 October, is a wonderful chance to view these structures in a new light – as not just mechanical buildings, but also as symbols deeply intertwined with our lives and memories.
Chimneys are commonplace in our daily lives, but they also represent romance, history, and even adventure. We invite you to check out our guide for amazing chimney trips. If you’re intrigued by the more mysterious side of things, explore a collection of spine-chilling chimney tales, legends, and soot-filled stories!

Chimneys that have vanished yet linger in memory

When the old Prowler, a chimney roughly sixty years old from the Vítkovice iron ore processing plant, fell in October 2019, many came to bid farewell as if it were a close friend. For the people of Ostrava, it wasn’t merely a stack of bricks and concrete, but a powerful emblem of an entire industrial age.
In a similar fashion, the chimney at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant was taken down in 2025. This 100-meter chimney, alongside the gas boiler house, was among the first structures built for the plant. Although it hasn’t been functional since the late 1980s, it remained a significant landmark in the area. When such recognizable structures are removed, it reminds us that even industrial buildings can hold emotional significance in the memories of local residents.

Chimneys in film and poetry

Chimneys have also found their way into our culture through films. One of the most memorable scenes is from the movie Postřížiny, directed by Jiří Menzel and based on a novel by Bohumil Hrabal. In it, Mariska, played by Magda Vášáryová, climbs a high factory chimney with Uncle Pepin, portrayed by Jaroslav Hanzlík, to gaze out over the landscape.
This iconic moment is significant in Czech cinema not only for its bravery but also for its poetic quality, presenting chimneys as symbols of freedom, perspective, and perhaps the desire for escape from daily life. It’s worth noting that this film was filmed at the Dalešice brewery, where you can still savor the poetic charm of Postřižiny along with Dalešice beer.

Thrills among bricks and soot

For some people, chimneys are just part of the scenery, while for others, they present a thrilling challenge. Chimney climbing enthusiasts, also known as chimney sweeps, have their own clubs, rules, and specialized language. You can join them at the Vortex Factory in the Highlands and try out the industrial ferrata that runs right alongside a former factory chimney. Safety measures are in place to ensure a secure adventure.
A very accessible experience can be found at the Old Bubeneč Wastewater Treatment Plant in Prague, where you can safely climb a 30-meter chimney. The view of Prague from this unusual vantage point will be unforgettable. If you’d like to stay a little longer, there are exciting options to explore the mysteries below – hidden passage tours or taking dark cruises.

Chimneys transformed into viewing platforms

Chimneys have always commanded attention, whether through their impressive height or the unforgettable moment they are brought down. The demolitions of the largest ones are often small spectacles that attract large crowds. When a structure collapses, it represents not just an engineering feat but also marks the end of an era. However, in other instances, chimneys remain intact and become technical monuments that serve new purposes – like viewing platforms, museum spaces, or unique lookout towers. One example is the one in the Bernard Brewery in Humpolec, where visitors can climb a staircase that wraps around the brewery’s 33-meter-high chimney, featuring 189 steps.

Chimneys that aren’t truly chimneys

The term Chimney has various meanings in Czech. In Brno, it’s the name of an entire district, there’s a significant obelisk called Komín (Chimney) near Litovel, and climbers use the term to describe crevices in rocks and caves suitable for climbing. Thus, chimneys symbolize not just the industrial age, but they carry linguistic and geographical resonance throughout various regions in the country.

Žatec, the City of Chimneys

In Žatec, chimneys hold a special kind of poetic significance. The chimneys from drying kilns, storages, and other hop-growing facilities rise high above the historic buildings in town. If you examine your surroundings in Žatec, you’ll notice how a technical necessity has evolved into a unique part of the town’s architecture.

Chimneys home to storks

Reportedly, the oldest documented stork nest in Central Europe is located in Jablonné v Podještědí, perched on a chimney: the earliest mention of stork nesting in local history dates back to 1864.
Storks also favor these tall structures in Bohuslavice, Mladé Buky, and many other regions. Once smoking towers, they have transformed into a lookout point overlooking the countryside, filled with the sound of storks’ beaks clattering. Chimneys that used to symbolize work and industry have seamlessly transitioned into homes representing new life.

Where are the tallest chimneys in the Czech Republic?

Standing at a height of a hundred meters is impressive, but the tallest chimneys in our country are actually three times taller. The tallest chimneys in the Czech Republic reach an impressive 300 meters at the Chvaletice Power Plant and the Prunéřov Power Plant. Before its demolition in 2012, the chimney at the Tušimice Power Plant was also of that height.
According to Wikipedia, the tallest chimney in Europe can be found in Slovenia, measuring 360 meters and part of the Trbovlje Thermal Power Plant. The tallest chimney in the world is located in Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan, and stands at 420 meters.

Chimney sweeps – symbols of good fortune

Lastly, we cannot forget about chimney sweeps whose special day, Chimney Sweep Day, is right around the corner on October 11. For centuries, men and women dressed in black and white hats have been essential in keeping homes safe by cleaning chimneys to ensure that fires burned safely. These individuals have also been viewed as bringers of good luck – when you encounter a chimney sweep, it’s said that you should touch their button to attract good fortune. Although they aren’t often seen on the streets anymore, encountering one makes the moment even more special. If luck doesn’t strike, people can still buy ceramic chimney sweep figurines as symbols of charm.
It might surprise you to learn that chimney sweeps have a patron saint – St. Florian, the protector against fire. In the Czech lands, the practice of chimney sweeping gained traction in the 16th century when Italian chimney sweeps traveled to our area via Germany. One of them, Tomáš Moniga, even achieved a monopoly on all chimney-sweeping services in Prague and brought along family members.
Another notable figure is Matej De Martini, who received privileges from Emperor Rudolf II in 1589, including a ceremonial uniform. This attire is believed to have been designed by the Emperor’s personal physician, Tadeáš Hájek of Hájek – consisting of black velvet, a white hood, and silver buckles. Besides a few modifications, this festive outfit has largely remained unchanged, becoming the chimney sweep’s uniform we see today.
Family traditions regarding chimney sweeping were also upheld, like the Benoni family where the trade has been passed down from father to son for over 200 years. Chimney sweeps also organized into guilds and societies to protect their rights, train apprentices, and establish guidelines for chimney cleaning practices. For example, the emblem of the Prague Chimney Sweep Guild from the 18th century featured a depiction of St. Florian flanked by chimney sweeps on either side.
However, various superstitions have always lingered around chimney sweeps. One prevalent belief in Czech culture is that meeting a chimney sweep brings good luck, leading someone to quickly grab their button. Interestingly, a similar belief exists outside the Czech Republic—like in the UK, where a bride who spots a chimney sweep on her wedding day will be lucky. Consequently, it’s common for chimney sweeps to be present at weddings of well-off families.
Whether some have disappeared, remained anchored in place, or turned into nests for storks, each chimney tells its own tale. Coupled with the fact that chimney sweeps, who are still revered as signifiers of good fortune, are part of this rich narrative, it becomes evident that the world of chimneys is far more varied than it may initially appear.