Every year, the Advent atmosphere in Prague's historic center is enhanced by the "old Prague" lamp-lighter. As in previous years, you will have a chance to meet the uniformed lamp-lighter on the Charles Bridge. At approximately 16:00 he will begin to light the historical gaslighting with a burning wick on a long rod near the Old Town Bridge Tower. People can admire the almost forgotten beauty and charm of gas lamps, of which there are a total of 46 on Charles Bridge and Křížovnické Square. Nowadays, the gas lights operate automatically, and Advent is the only time of the year when the gas lamps are lit up by a lamplighter. The lamp-lighter sets off from the Church of St. Francis of Assisi on Křížovnické Square, crosses one side of the bridge to Malá Strana, and then returns on the other side of the bridge. Finally, he lights the remaining gas lamps on Křížovnické Square. Street lighting in Prague dates back to 1847, which is the year when the first gas lamps were lit in this city. By 1940, nearly 9,000 gas lamps cast their bluish glow on the city. Gaslighting was used in Prague till 1985 when the eight branched cast-iron lamps on Hradčanské square and in Loretánská street were converted for electric light. However, 2002 saw the return of gaslight to the city’s most historic areas. In 2010, gas lamps were placed on the Charles Bridge, which is the only gas-lit bridge in the world. Nowadays, you can admire romantic gaslighting on the whole Royal Route, from Powder Gate Tower to Hradčanské square.