In Prague’s Municipal Library, The Secret Infinity Tower Amuses Visitors With Its Optical Illusion

Have you ever been to Prague? If you are planning to, then do keep a visit planned for the city’s Municipal Library. This hidden gem in this Czech capital has carefully arranged books on shelves for easy access, like any other library. But there’s more. Some books contribute to a captivating art installation in the library, named The Tower of Knowledge, consisting of 8,000 books. This artistic creation, also known as The Infinity Book Tower, has adorned the library’s lobby since 1998. Crafted by the Slovak artist Matej Krén, it is a cylindrical tower within the Prague Library, constructed by stacking overlapping books from floor to ceiling. The tower features a teardrop-shaped slit at the front, inviting visitors to peek inside and experience a highly convincing optical illusion.

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Mirrors strategically positioned inside the tower generate a dizzying effect, creating the illusion that the book stack extends endlessly, both upwards and downwards. This sensation can induce anxiety in curious visitors with a fear of heights. Despite the video’s appearance, the person recording is not standing on the tower’s edge but is, in fact, safely positioned on the library floor, capturing the view through the teardrop-shaped slit and pointing the camera downwards.

Visitors to Prague can explore the library, located in Mariánské Square in the Old Town, close to the renowned Astronomical Clock Tower. Matej Krén, the artist behind this structure – also known as the Idiom – has undertaken various book-centric projects, including the well-known Gravity Mixer, a rotunda composed of thousands of books, and Passage – an artwork resembling a corridor made from books and mirrors.

The Prague’s Municipal Library, centrally located between the Charles Bridge and Old Town Square, making it easily accessible for both locals and tourists. The tower is prominently placed in the entrance foyer, noticeable as soon as you ascend the stairs upon entering. Visitors can anticipate finding a queue in the central area of the stairwell.

For those intrigued by the captivating experience inside the book tower, additional excitement awaits in Prague at the New Town Hall, where they can venture into the unconventional paternoster elevator for a unique and unusual ride.