Stuff you don't find in guide books
Prague’s Old Town is the source of so many stories, legends and historical incidents that it’s hard to walk more than a few metres before you come across another.
It’s hardly surprising, is it? It is the oldest part of the city and that means more must have happened here than anywhere else.
From people buried alive, to the founding of a nation; from the bombardment of a democratic spirit to the secrets of alchemy – it’s all here.
I’ve split the stories I have based on the area – or street – in the Old Town to help you explore your surroundings with ease.
Prague has alchemical symbols hiding in plain sight. Regular readers will be familiar with some of these. There is a larger pattern of alchemical symbols hiding in the streets of Prague. This article guides you through the mystical underbelly of the City of a Thousand Spires!
I’ve written about the walls of Prague’s Old Town, which the city destroyed. It’s unfortunate they removed such a historical feature. Once Prague had a New Town and external fortifications there was no need for the walls around the Old Town.
Every visitor to Prague ends up on the Charles Bridge. There is a magnificent view of the castle and the city from there, so it isn’t surprising the bridge is packed all day long. Not many people traipsing across know about the superstition behind its construction.
Tourists from the New World chuckle when they read that Prague’s New Town dates back to the 14th century. The New World barely existed in those days. Prague’s Old Town Fortifications have been lost but if you know where to look, you can rediscover the medieval limits of the Old Town of Prague.
Prague’s Charles Bridge is adorned with statues that accompany tourists on their walk across the Vltava river. St Christopher’s statue is one of the moreRead More
Tucked into the entrance of an alley beside the road leading to Prague’s Old Town Square lies the House of Two Bears. The imagery, whichRead More
We’re used to haunted stories about ghosts, strange creatures and brutal deaths. In Prague, there also is a haunting by a jilted lover.
As tourists, we tend to make the mistake of assuming that any structure which looks suitably old is automatically ancient. It’s easy to walk aroundRead More
Close to the Old Town Square, between midnight and 1:00 am, you may witness the Headless Templar of Prague riding past. Or maybe you won’t.
Prague’s Old Town Square used to contain one of the largest sundials I’ve ever heard of. Judging by reports in the local news, it justRead More