Paternoster Lifts in Prague Cancelled? | Eastern European Elevators of Death

Access to Prague's paternoster lifts is more and more limited. One of Prague's hidden gems, the paternoster lift, has become such a popular tourist attraction in recent years that some buildings in Prague started to install anti-tourist barriers. The main reasons for the barriers are tourist accident related. Let's take a look at what's happening with paternosters in Prague.
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[@lassmirandadennsiewillja2235]

In the Summer of 2015 access to paternosters in Germany (most of them being in administrative buildings) was limited to only especially qualified personal by law (Betriebsstättenverordnung - that's the short name). People working in such buildings were rather angry about climbing stairs, and that part of the law was abolished within weeks.

[@geoffos42]

I worked for a company in Bedford, England in the 80s that had a paternoster lift. It was a quick and easy way to get between the three or four floors of the building. There were conventional lifts across the hall for anyone who needed to use them to transport themselves and equipment in a safer way.

[@wink37]

I worked at the Czech Technical University 20 years ago, and one of my fondest memories involved riding their paternoster daily. Sometimes I’d even do a “360” just for thrills. It’s heartbreaking to think that they’re becoming more off-limits. The trick to riding it is to step onto and off of the thing with confidence. Don’t hesitate, and you (likely) won’t get hurt.

[@circleinforthecube5170]

Elevators are mainly used for disabled access, this is unusable by disabled people

[@novh4ck]

You are correct. This is not an elevator. This is a paternoster designed to transports as many people as possible quickly.

[@tomv3361]

There's actually two of them (if not more) in Lucerna. You showed the closed one, but the second can be freely accesed but it's kind of hidden behind a small corner passage, you have to find it :) I won't say where exactly as there is no need in too many people finding out and popularizing it.

[@breznik1197]

"Eastern European Elevators" originate in London and are prevalently in Western and Central Europe. :-)

[@theoutsidebroadcast]

Please don't cancel the paternosters of Prague, they are so cool :)

[@aktchungrabanio6467]

Please stop promoting their use if you are not a native. Thanks.

[@GoldKingsMan]

Never came across this while In Prague wow! I heard in 1937 there was an ‘Electric Elevator Tabie’.

[@fredyair1]

"Against stupidity the very gods themselves contend in vain." Friedrich Schiller

[@mottomanic]

Just went to city hall today December 8, 2022. No guard and there was a sign directing you the elevator. Everyone was nice and seemed that they didn't mind.

[@chrishutchison5031]

Happy Thanksgiving RPGs!!!! Thanks for the great content, it is one of the things I am thankful for

[@NewingtonBoy]

I used to work at St Thomas Hospital in London. They had paternosters installed there over forty years ago! When we use to come from the pub in the afternoon half cut, we use to ride the loop!

[@sujaytomar]

Glad I was able to ride the "Eastern" European elevator of death and came out alive... now I feel like superman

[@DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE]

Hello, Thanks for sharing your wonderful videos, Regards, Simon from Adelaide, Australia... 😊 ❤️

[@owen8681]

I know these vids rock. I've been to Prague twice from Perth. Greetings Simon ! Valery is wonderful.

[@DUMPSTERDIVINGADELAIDE]

@@owen8681 - she has replied to me a few times, said we are lucky in Australia to have beaches, but not in Prague

[@zuzanajendralova8087]

So, Challenge time. Can you please explain what the snakes are doing, sat on the eagle wings, with the teddy bear head and hanging human body? You will find them at your main station, outside above platform 1 and 3. Cau

[@lubosmotl5200]

It is so stupid to shut it down. I would build 20 new paternosters in Prague and collect $50 for a ticket.

[@Pidalin]

Calling it eastern european elevators is slightly ridiculous when you find the most of them in Germany, Austria and Switzerland 🙂

[@GoodFilmy]

Also some in Denmark and Netherlands

[@Pidalin]

@@GoodFilmy that's also eastern europe 😀

[@MartinProavis]

@@Pidalin Jo. A my jsme západ, přece...😆

[@Pidalin]

@@MartinProavis tak v tý době kdy se stavěly paternostery jsme západ opravdu byli 🙂

[@MartinProavis]

@@Pidalin Byli. Ale už nikdy nebudeme...

[@redstone51]

🌹🤣OUTSTANDING!!! WOW! THANK YOU SO MUCH ON MANY LEVELS🤣 VALERIE FOR THIS SHOW. YOU MADE IT LOOK SO EASY. I BELIEVE IT IS EASY, JUST DON'T BE DRUNK. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!! WINKY WINKY!!!🙏❤👌

[@Ozan]

still doesn't allow for tourist ? is anyone know ? I'll be there end of month.

[@craigiewatson2695]

This sort of elevator was removed from the college I attended only about 3 or 4 years before I went there. The staff told us of the scary things and we all wished we might have had a ride on one. That was in Edinburgh in the mid 80s. So, not just "Eastern European" and not so long ago.

[@rjwilson73]

Had one at University and before you went on it (which you had to do in freshers week) you were told it tipped upside down at the top to come down the other side...seemed to make sense if you thought about it...

[@apntv]

Ha, we managed to film on one of those lifts in our Prague vlog, must have been just in time :-)

[@sandor7594]

This is silly. In Hungary, the paternoster cable car operated at my workplace, and there was never a single accident. Outside there was a drawing of how to get in and out of the booth. At the other end of the corridor, there was also a normal elevator, but most of the colleagues thought the paternoster was faster.

[@stroke_of_luck]

Our father, who came up with this insane method of transportation, hallowed be thy name

[@IceCreamLatte779]

Most excellent topic - Elevator of death. Please do more of these death traps videos that locals and tourists still willingly go thru. Thanks for the video Valerie & team.

[@jamesmihalcik1310]

Such a brilliant cost-effective way to make stairs the less preferred option. If we had some in the US, our difficulties would just melt away over time :)

[@davidanalyst671]

our lawyers got rid of these long long looooooong time ago

[@LEMMY1107]

to much movement isn´t your biggest problem in the U.S. seeing all that mega fattys over there XD

[@barakabaraka2813]

Eastern European Elevators of Death? These elevator you can see in Germany, UK and in others countries. "Eastern European Elevators of Death" you can see also in Danish Parliament.

[@davidanalyst671]

Every day I get out of bed is a elevator of death experience

[@jonchurch7773]

I suspect ever since Honest Guide showed the lifts in a video they've become more popular. I suspect the experience might be more enhanced by four or five Pilsner Urquell hladinka; or your beverage of choice.

[@laussrensen4541]

It is perfectly fine that these elevators are reserved for people who actually need them. Tourists should respectfully stay away!

[@bremCZ]

There are plenty of others to choose from in Czech Republic.

[@ericderami]

I've been trying to get onto one here in Germany. I went to one in Hamburg but it was closed/not being used for construction reasons. I have been told that many of them in use here are also limited to employees as they are located in city government buildings.

[@RealPragueGuides]

It seems like that’s where the Prague ones are heading. More and more are closed off for general public. Eric if you ever visit Prague send us a message and we’ll tell you privately where are the ones that are still easily accessible by public ☺️. We can go there together and finally grab a beer! 🍻

[@StarvingMarving]

My wife and I are moving to Prague next year. I rode a Paternoster once in Germany - pretty sure it was Hamburg. I’ve wanted to show her one for a long time.

[@eurovator4273]

Hamburg once was the german "capital" of paternosters since there have been lots of them. The first german paternoster was, guess it, in Hamburg, but that doesn´t exist anymore since nearly 60 years. However, there are still a few ones accessible for everyone, not only in Hamburg but also in other german cities.

[@1234jajadingdong]

Someone was just crushed and killed by one of these this week in Berlin btw…

[@freeculture]

Umm, i rode the one in Lucerna Palace a few months ago 🙂

[@itsmyireland]

Going in a week, is there any I can go see and use on a weekend please

[@owen8681]

These tourists are sophisticated. I just enjoyed the outside of the building. I didnt realise any cool, claustrophobia elevators to ride inside. Let's keep it a secret 🙂

[@aktchungrabanio6467]

That's because you fail to believe.

[@martinbalagat]

So what part of Europe is the Czech Republic if it's not part of Eastern Europe? Central?

[@MartinProavis]

Central

[@camilla_k97]

I understand, why they're cancelled or restricted for tourists. Americans, Russians, Australians, Chinese, etc. without having enough experience and with a lot of interest can harm themselves and others.

[@JoRei953]

I can just imagine a bunch of drunk college students on holiday trying these out!

[@macdieter23558]

Elevator of death?? Seems you never rode the escalators in Budapest subways! Compared to a normal escalator they have nealry triple speed. Many people use the subway in Budapest, and this speedy processing of people makes sure they don´t have to wait too long. Because...they have places to go! It´s very adventurous if you travel like me: My wife needs a rollator, we had a kid in a stroller and a big big suitcase. Okay, within a minute the escalator had emptied the crowded station, except of us! My wife was in full panic mode due to the speed. So I told her to go first and to find a firm point to grab when she reached the top level. When she reached nearly half height I stepped on the rolling stairs, rollator and stroller in front of me, the suitcase behind me. While on the move I called out to her to step aside because "I´m coming!!" Coming to the top level I had a sight to see: My wife standing at the side with four conductors who had helped her and who were crying laughing about what came from the underground! Will never forget that moment! Never forget: What we call adventures if we think back about it is mostly situations you hope to survive while you´re experiencing them!

[@ivoivanov20]

I was this year at Lucerna Passage and I wanted to take the elevator. However there was a girl at the entrance selling tickets. I had to pay around 200CZK. In the price was included a drink in the rooftop bar .. was it a scam?

[@pyridonfaltis9761]

Well if you got a drink, then probably it wasn't a full scam. Sounds quite expensive though. I wasn't able to get on the rooftoop at all, not even by paying.

[@xxxvodnikxxx]

"Eastern European Elevators of Death" / "Elevators of Death" is a crap words, you might get stuck the same in the normal lift or elevator exactly the same as in paternoster ... You might even hurt exactly the same if you dont follow the safety instructions And regarding the responsible persons put a baricades and dont allow public to access anymore, well, it is completely fine, its not a tourist attraction, its actually a functional lift, so it is quite logical, eg. employees working at the given places are not happy once there are tens of teh people everyday filming, making videos, or photos or whatever people do in nowadays

[@lanndavis9509]

Val, you just contributed to the slow goodbye of the paternoster

[@pyridonfaltis9761]

How, when they are already closed? And I don't know if the elevators themselves are going anywhere, they just aren't attractions anymore, but used for their original purpose instead of joyriding. Even though they would be cool attractions.

[@ray7419]

They’re only dangerous to people dumb enough to not see how they obviously work, and know how to use them safely. lol Even though you’re not American, Happy and safe Thanksgiving. 😊

[@ivogianfranco1633]

First of all, I've seen these rare elevators in Britain and in Germany, so there's nothing "Eastern European" about them. In fact, they were invented in England. Second, it is very clear that you're no "real Prague guide". No Czech would consider his home country "Eastern Europe". Except the short unfortunate period in the 20th century, when Czechoslovakia became part of the Eastern Block, Prague and Czech lands have always been and still are CENTRAL Europe. For most part of their history, which means over a thousand years. Geographically, historically, culturally, ethnically and economically. I think that the only Eastern European part in this video is you, because I can clearly hear some East Slavic (Russian? Ukrainian?) accent :)

[@eurovator4273]

The last sentence you wrote is not very fair; I know a guy from Prague who talks with the same accent.

[@jesjes5255]

Quit frothing at the mouth.

[@johnvelas70]

I'd get seasick in that...

[@ykwoozie606]

You look like Meg Griffins from family guy!

[@clays4337]

limited to overtourism due to the tiktokers, instagramer types.. it ruins everything.... The same thing at the central city of Prague library.. the book stack. It now has to be controlled, monitered.

[@MrEsfranck]

I understand why they don't want tourists riding the paternosters. Paternosters are dangerous, and people have been injured and even killed in accidents. There is a reason why they call them elevators of death.

[@macdieter23558]

That´s called "survival of the fittest"! If a paternoster is too dangerous for you you should leave the human genepool! What could be dangerous in stepping into or out of an elevator? You must be a special type of dumb to not be capable of that!

[@eurovator4273]

Paternosters are exactly as dangerous as the persons that use it. Use it properly and nothing dangerous will happen. Accidents have always been caused by the persons itself, not by the Paternoster.

[@poonamtiwari89]

Accounts

[@HoboErectusTheAznAnimator2K8]

Elevators in ohio

[@viarnay]

Dumb detector elevators, period..🙄

[@Banditt42]

What a bone head move to close it to tourists.

[@ratticusratticus9640]

so just blatantly stealing the honest guides content?

[@RealPragueGuides]

What do you mean?

[@ykwoozie606]

Stop being so toxic

[@ratticusratticus9640]

@@ykwoozie606almost as unoriginal as the video 2/10 bad response

[@michaelbrodsky]

Neboj se. Jsi mimi nebo velká holčička?

[@paisano-mf2yx]

Sorry, Valery... Czech Republic will forever be Eastern Europe to me because of the historical influence the "east" had over the country for decades 🤷‍♂️

[@aktchungrabanio6467]

It's ok baby, you are all alone.

[@istankimjong-unbutcantstan3398]

Oh no, not them too. No need to be "woke" about these elevators! I was thinking of moving there over these.