GOLDEN LANE

Description

Essentials about the Golden Lane in brief

It is probably the most famous street in Prague and a real tourist magnet: The Golden Lane. Located on the inner wall of Prague Castle, the alley is so famous for three reasons. First, the houses here are so small that you get the impression of finding yourself in a fairy tale. Second, alchemists were once at work here making artificial gold and the famous Philosopher’s Stone. And thirdly, the world-famous writer Franz Kafka once lived in house number 22.

The history of the Golden Lane

The Golden Lane is located between the northern castle wall and the Burgrave’s Palace. It is bordered by two towers, the White Tower to the west and the Daliborka to the east. Behind the eleven small houses of the alley is the battlements. The little houses date back to the 16th century and were originally built as accommodation for the castle guards of Emperor Rudolf II. Later, mainly goldsmiths moved into the cottages, from which the alley probably got its name. In the 19th century, the Golden Lane was increasingly dilapidated, which is why mainly poorer people settled there.

The Golden Lane today

After the Second World War, the Office of the President bought the houses and had them renovated. Since then the alley has been uninhabited and in some of the houses small museums have been placed, where the former living and working conditions of the inhabitants are presented. Thus, visitors can see the rooms and workshops of alchemists, castle guards, goldsmiths, clairvoyants and herbalists.

Moreover, in the Golden Lane there are several cafes and souvenir stores where you can buy Czech handicrafts. Above the alley, a battlement runs along the outer wall, which can be visited and in which there is an exhibition of medieval armor. By the way, there is an entrance fee to visit the Golden Lane. For those who are interested in the history of Prague and want to get to know an absolutely extraordinary alley, it is a worthwhile investment.