Why Prague is a mystical city. Secrets of mystical Prague
Prague is one of my favorite cities; it never ceases to amaze and delight, no matter how many times I come here. This year we were in Prague for the third time, but unlike previous trips, this one lasted only one day. A new thing for me was a tour of the mystical places of Prague.
Excursion “Mystical Prague”
This excursion is very popular among tourists, but somehow we never had a chance to go on it before, although we had a tour of Prague at night. To my great surprise, I discovered several more unusual places in Prague and many interesting stories and legends about Prague ghosts and apparitions. Prague is generally a city associated with mysticism, with various kinds of fantastic and mystical legends, with the activities of alchemists, magicians, etc.
Of course, the most famous fantastic creature of Prague is the Golem, which, according to legend, was created by the Prague Rabbi Lev to protect the Jewish people from pogroms and oppression. The rabbi made a giant out of clay, into whose mouth was placed a piece of Kabbalistic spells that revived him. The golem regularly performed its functions until one day it got out of control. Then Lev had to forever hide the monster he had created in the attic of the synagogue, which today is one of the most famous synagogues in Prague and, for a moment, the oldest operating in Europe. It is located in the Jewish (Joseph) quarter, a visit to which is very popular among tourists.
Many Orthodox Jews, and simply fans of old fairy tales, still believe that the Golem exists and is waiting in the wings. This, for example, sometimes explains why in a synagogue the staircase to the attic begins above human height - so that onlookers would not think of climbing up there. By the way, attempts to discover and revive the Golem are made with enviable regularity by representatives of Orthodox Jewish youth. People from the Synagogue at night often remove people who want to look under the roof in the attic or break down the door. This time, too, we met a company of very enthusiastic young people of characteristic appearance, anxiously walking around the synagogue and looking into all the windows. Perhaps they were also planning to revive the Golem?
Of course, the Golem is one of the most popular tourist brands in Prague: souvenirs with its image are readily bought by tourists, especially in shops in the Jewish Quarter. Not far from the synagogue there is a restaurant called “At the Golem”.
And Rabbi Lev himself remains very revered in Prague, not only among Jews, but also among the Czechs themselves. His ashes are buried in the famous Jewish cemetery in the Josef quarter, and many tourists and local residents come, leaving notes on his grave with requests and wishes - the main thing is to clearly and correctly formulate your request.
And the statue of the rabbi is installed in a very unexpected place - it adorns a niche in the corner of the Prague City Hall building. The black monument looks very mysterious and impressive.
The same building is decorated with another interesting sculpture - the legendary Iron or Black Knight. According to legend, he was a visiting warrior who fell in love with a beautiful girl. But, tormented by jealousy, he killed her, piercing her with his sword. The girl, dying, cursed him that he would not find peace until another innocent and beautiful girl sincerely pitied him and mourned. Since then, the restless ghost of the Black Knight leaves his pedestal once every hundred years in search of a pure and immaculate maiden who would give him forgiveness and peace. There is another legend, also associated with love, jealousy, death and curse. According to her, this knight returned from the war, suspected his beloved of treason, but did not kill her, but married someone else. The beloved drowned herself out of grief, and her father cursed the knight, who soon also died. Finally, there is a third version of the development of events - the knight, who repented of the death of his beloved, strangled his own unloved wife and hanged himself. The method of getting rid of the curse is the same as in the first legend. Which legend do you like best?
In general, many legends and ghosts of Prague are in one way or another connected with love, jealousy and fatal passion. For example, the ghost of a Turk from Ungelt is known. Once upon a time, there was a customs house on Ungelt Square, located near the Tyn Temple, and merchants from different countries came here.
Among them was a young Turk who fell in love with a beautiful Prague woman. He courted the girl for a long time, and her father insisted that the young merchant become engaged to her before leaving for his homeland. And so it happened, the Turk left for his homeland to prepare for the wedding, the girl waited and waited for him, but he still did not go and did not go. All sorts of rumors and gossip had already begun to spread, and in the end the girl married someone else. A noisy wedding was taking place in a large square, when suddenly a horseman in oriental clothes rode through the arch (pictured below) - that same Turk. He pretended to come to terms with what had happened, but the girl disappeared that same night. And after a long time, her severed head was found in the basement of one of the houses. And since then, passers-by often see the ghost of a distraught Turk who goes down to the basement where he killed and hid his beloved.
Many ghosts wander around the Dominican monastery, located right in the heart of old Prague, next to the Old Town Square.
For several centuries now, two ghosts have been inseparable: a Dominican monk and a harlot, whose image can be seen on one of the houses. According to legend, one day the monks were returning with collected donations, and they met a girl who made her living by selling love. One of the monks wanted to reason with her and gave her all the money so that she could start a new life. But the restless girl began to wait for the monk in this place every day, demanding money from him, otherwise she would slander him for using her services. The monk hit her on the head with a cross and killed her. Since then, the harlot and her murderer, the monk, have been wandering here. Most often they are seen on Tseletnaya Street.
The monastery itself, by the way, is also a very remarkable place. The first church appeared on this site in the 12th century, the current monastery was built in the 17th-18th century. The central church dates back to the 13th-14th century. Various historical films were filmed on the territory of the monastery, the monks here brew beer and prepare... absinthe - in one of the walls of the monastery there is a small shop - an absentery. This drink is specific; it is generally accepted that many outstanding artists and writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries owe their creativity to it. The store is very atmospheric, but none of us dared to try absinthe.
We go further and see on the wall an image of the “three musketeers”. In fact, these are three standard bearers. This is also a very famous legend of Prague: three comrades, being soldiers, went to war, and sitting in the bar downstairs, they vowed not to be separated from each other even after death. One of them died in battle and appeared in a dream to his comrades, reminding them of the oath.
The surviving two comrades were frightened, abandoned military service and retired to the Monastery of Our Lady of the Snows to atone for their own sins and avoid imminent death. But an oath is an oath, and they still died on the same day (under what circumstances, I don’t know). Thus the promise made while drunk came true - death took all three of them.
Another ghost associated with the monastery, but a different one - Anezhsky (I talked about it above) - is the ghost of a murdered nun. A meek and beautiful girl was killed by her own father, a rich and influential man. and all because she was unlucky enough to fall in love with a poor young man. Her father was angry and sent her to that same monastery. But finally, the girl decided to see and say goodbye to her lover. The father tracked down the lovers and, in a fit of anger, killed his daughter. So now the unfortunate bloodied nun is wandering around the outskirts of the monastery. But they say that there is no need to be afraid of her - she is the one who feels bad to say words of support and sympathize with.
But who you should be wary of is a crazy barber running around Charles Street with a razor. No, he didn’t cut anyone’s throat with this razor, but he really annoys passers-by with offers to cut their hair or shave it, he especially pesters blondes, grabs them by the hair and can even cut it off. His story is as follows: he lived as a barber, but his craft did not generate income, and he decided to take up alchemy to get gold. His idea turned out to be unsuccessful, he spent all his small fortune, lost his family and went crazy.
Walking through the narrow streets of old Prague, pay attention to the so-called “house with bears” (corner of Kožná Street). Another mystical and tragic love story is connected with him. According to legend, the daughter of a rich merchant who lived in this house was the bride of an equally rich Italian. The groom, as usual, went home on business, but promised to return. He didn’t return for a very long time, and then one day the girl screamed in horror: “Bears, bears, he was torn apart by bears!” and fell dead. And after some time, the groom’s torn body was actually found in the forest.
But for me, the most chilling legend is the legend of the medic-executioner. They say that a long time ago there lived in Prague a medical student who fell in love with a fatal beauty who was part of a gang of thieves. The girl was caught and sent to prison. The student, in order to get to his beloved, became an apprentice to the executioner to learn torture. As a result, he was tasked with finding out from the thief who her accomplices were. The student in love was not going to torture her and suggested running away. But she just laughed in his face, saying that she had never loved. Then, mad with anger and jealousy, the student applied all the torture known to him to her, torturing her to death. Then, of course, he went crazy.
Of course, these are not all the legends of old Prague, not all of its ghosts and ghosts. They say that on the streets of Prague you can meet the ghost of Jan Hus, and his executioner, and the ghost of the famous alchemist Tycho Brahe, and the architect Parler, who built the Charles Bridge, it is believed, not without the help of dark forces. Very popular among tourists (or tourists among them) is the ghost of a student who sold his skeleton for debts; a crazy pirate who is looking for the girl who robbed him; chariot of fire and many others. There are numerous ghosts of alchemists and executioners here. This has become such a popular brand of Prague that a special mobile application was even developed, similar to the well-known Pokémon hunt. Only instead of Pokemon you catch Prague ghosts in their habitats.
Unfortunately, we did not meet any of the ghosts of Prague, maybe you will succeed.
What else did you see?
During this day we managed to:
- once again (for the third time) take a walking tour of Prague Castle and the Old Town - it was included in the price of the tour, in addition, each guide leads along his favorite routes and tells his favorite stories, so you can still walk around familiar places equally interesting. By the way, for the first time we attended the changing of the guard at the entrance to Prague Castle. But those who came to Prague for the first time this year were a little unlucky: the famous Prague Orloj clock is closed for restoration, and “the narrowest street in Prague” (next to the Kafka Museum) was also closed - at the end of this street there is a restaurant, and a gate was recently installed at the entrance, which opens only when the restaurant is open;
- again, this is not the first time to sail on a boat on the Vltava: I really love river walks - on our bus tour this summer we had a complete set of river boat trips: along the canals of Amsterdam, along the Seine in Paris, and now - along the Vltava in Prague. The river walk in Prague is also notable for the fact that tourists are offered a treat in the form of a buffet and two drinks: plum brandy and beer or non-alcoholic - to choose from. There was a lot of meat on the buffet, delicious lightly salted herring, salads, among the national dishes - utopenki - these are sausages marinated with vinegar and onions, meat balls; a lot of baked goods, fruits; National Czech cuisine is very similar to German - hearty, meaty. It’s a very pleasant activity to explore the sights of Prague from the river while enjoying delicious Czech food;
- take a walk along the Vltava embankment and go where you haven’t gone before: firstly, we went up to the famous Prague metronome - it rises above the Chekhov Bridge, in the place where there used to be a large monument to Stalin; but after the de-Stalinization started by Khrushchev, which also affected the then Czechoslovakia, the monument was removed, and in the early 90s a large metronome was installed in that place, designed to symbolize the passage and changes of time; from the height there is a beautiful view of Chekhov Bridge and more modern Prague;
- secondly, we went into the courtyard of the monastery of St. Agnes, or the Anege monastery, with which many legends and stories are associated, I’ll tell you about one of them later; this monastery was founded back in the 13th century by the highly revered Agnieżka of Bohemia, who was canonized only in 1989.
She came from the ruling Přemyslovich dynasty, and devoted her entire life to charity and serving God, but the church could not recognize her as a saint for a long time, since her relics were lost during the Hussite wars. The Czechs for a very long time sought from the Holy See to recognize her as a saint, because the Czechs do not have many of their own “home-grown” saints; and only in the late 80s, in the wake of the “Velvet Revolution,” did they achieve this. As for the monastery, it is considered one of the oldest in Prague; it is also notable for the fact that the remains of many Czech kings are buried here.
Currently, the monastery is recognized as a national monument of the Czech Republic, it houses an exhibition of medieval art, and in the courtyard, as always happens in Prague - in the most seemingly inappropriate or unexpected place - some examples of modern art, very specific. But it won’t be Prague if there isn’t some example of modern art next to the historical site.
and finally, at the end of a busy day, we had an excursion called “mystical Prague”.
Introduction
Prague has always been a magnet for strange creatures, mad scientists and alchemists. Want to know why this happens? Then join us on a tour and hear stories about the legendary Prague spirits and the local rulers' passion for the occult. Walk through the Prague alleys, where desperate souls rise from the dead every night and where you can still smell blood and tears...
Description
The Mystic Prague walking tour is suitable for most people. This is an exciting, fun and of course scary journey!
No other city in Europe has as many mystical legends as Prague. On the tour we will go through the stories and legends associated with the magical capital of old Europe.
Our guide will become your only source of light in the dark history of Prague. He will guide you through the winding nooks and dimly lit streets of the old city, which hide many mysteries and strange, but very fascinating tales. In addition, thanks to the guide, you will be able to decipher the secret symbolism contained in the architecture of shabby buildings and temples, learn their stories and legends.
Meeting with the guide and departure for the excursion "Mystical Prague"
At the appointed place (see information about the pick-up point below, also - this information will be indicated in the voucher) you will be met by a guide and invited to a walking tour of Prague.
Guide:
Russian-speaking guide throughout the tour
Special equipment:
We use a special transmitter that will allow you to hear the guide at a distance of up to 20 meters
What to take with you:
Passport, insurance (originals), comfortable shoes
Cancellation of an order:
You can cancel your order 48 hours in advance
Start of the excursion
Prague is one of the most mystical places in the World. Come with us in the footsteps of the spirits of history and legends associated with the magical capital of old Europe. On a mystical excursion we will leave the bright lights and plunge into the dark side of Prague. The only “light source” will be our guide, who will lead you through the winding nooks and dimly lit streets of the Old Town, hiding mysterious messages and ancient tales. On the excursion we will examine many ancient buildings and temples and try to decipher the secret symbolism contained in their architecture. Prague is known as the most haunted city in Europe. Ghosts inhabit many areas of the city - but you need to know where to look for them! Prague's dramatic 1,000-year history is filled with chilling tales, curses and restless spirits that have risen to haunt the city for eternity in search of solace.
Arriving in Zlata Prague, travelers will certainly wander along the well-trodden tourist path. You should definitely walk across the Royal Charles Bridge, decorated with a string of statues of saints, and take a picture of yourself against the backdrop of the Vltava embankment. You definitely need to wait until the famous astronomical clock of the ancient city hall on Old Town Square begins its little show. You can't miss the changing of the guard near the palace where the president's residence is located. And finally, get to one of the ancient breweries for which Bohemia is famous. The high quality of beer is ensured by a long tradition. Since the 14th century, unscrupulous beer producers would sit in the city square wearing a collar and chain and pour their own low-quality drink on any passers-by who wanted to take revenge for the spoiled pleasure. After a day's walk around the city, there is no need to rush back to the hotel or stay too long in one of the many l famous restaurants, because Prague reveals all its mysteries and secrets at midnight.
As soon as dusk falls on the city, and darkness envelops the ancient medieval streets, everything around is transformed. It was this gloomy Prague that inspired Franz Kafka and Gustav Meyrink to create mystical works. Every house, every door, every garden in the old city has its own history. Many of them have become the property of all humanity, and not just lovers of Czech folklore. The story of Doctor Faustus and the legend of Rabbi Loew, the creator of an artificial creature - the Golem, became world famous.
Mystical elements are organically woven into the history of Prague, adding a special flavor. Even the very foundation of the city is shrouded in a very peculiar legend. The prince's daughter Libusha, who lived in the 9th century, possessed an extremely useful skill for rulers - clairvoyance. One day, standing on a hill above the Vlatva River, she felt another surge of “power” and immediately uttered a prophecy that a city would soon be founded, the glory of which would reach the heavens. The foundation site was supposed to be the threshold of a house, which at that moment was being made by some man.
The prince's servants went in search of this place and soon found a simple plowman named Přemysl, who was just making a prag (“threshold” in Czech). Taking him as her husband, the princess founded not only the dynasty of the Přemyslid princes, but also the city of Prague. Who knows whether that prophecy was a revelation or simply the desire of a noble lady to commit an eccentric act by marrying a low-class man, but thanks to this mystical-romantic story, the beautiful city of Prague appeared in the vastness of Bohemia.
But the city became the real capital of mysticism during the time of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. This very unusual monarch devoted his life not to wars, nor to the discovery of new lands, as was fashionable in his era, but to the search for the philosopher’s stone, capable of turning any metal into gold. Since 1583, when Rudolf moved to the new capital, scientists, alchemists, astrologers, metaphysicians, healers and simply charlatans began to flock to Prague Castle from all over Europe, hoping to gain favor with the emperor.
Rudolf invited some of them personally, sponsoring not only their move to the capital, but also their accommodation. Such scientists as Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, famous astrologers Edward Kelly and John Dee worked under his patronage. According to legend, Golden Street was precisely the place where scientists, astrologers and alchemists of all stripes worked miracles at night. It’s no wonder that every house was a real alchemical workshop, shrouded in secrets.
However, not only Zlata Street is famous for its creepy stories about the alchemical experiments of medieval scientists. There is a house on one of the corners of Charles Square. Local residents are sure that the notorious doctor and warlock Johann Faust, the prototype of many literary and musical works, lived there for some time. In general, many mysterious personalities lived in this house; it seemed to attract everything strange. There is still a terrible cold in the attic of the damned house, and its gloomy garden is considered the last refuge of Faust’s soul, which never found peace. Studying magical formulas in ancient books, Faust found the opportunity to summon the devil. Having concluded an agreement with him, Faust sold his soul and received in exchange the fulfillment of any desires. When the time came to repay the debt, the warlock begged the devil to wait, but he was inexorable. He grabbed Faust and flew out of the house with him right through the roof, knocking out a hole in the tiles. No matter how the subsequent inhabitants of the house repaired this hole, the next day it opened up again. Today the cursed house houses a hospital. But traces of the presence of Faust and the devil still remain in the upper part of the house: a non-disappearing and irreducible stain marks the place from where the devil flew out with the unfortunate soul of the doctor.
Let's return to Emperor Rudolf. After the mass expulsion of all Jews from Spain and Portugal at the end of the 15th century, they found refuge in the possessions of Rudolf, since he was more interested not in astrology or alchemy, not in Western European science, but in the ancient Jewish mystical teaching - Kabbalah. In the quarters of the Jewish ghetto of Prague in the 16th century lived an outstanding expert in Kabbalah - the learned Rabbi Yehuda ben Bnzalel, known as Rabbi Loew. For thirty years he was the head of the Jewish community and rabbi of the Old New Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Europe. Rumor attributed to him exceptional wisdom and possession of secret knowledge of the formula from the mystical book Zohar (“Radiance”). Containing just over a thousand words, this book contains the secrets of God's name, creation, and the meaning of life. Thanks to knowledge of the formula, Lev was able to create a Golem from clay - a living creature that follows the orders of its creator. A peculiar medieval robot bore the word “truth” on its forehead, bringing it to life. Every Friday, Rabbi Loew “deactivated” the Golem so that it would not accumulate excessive energy and cool down. One day he forgot to do this and the Golem, rebelling, almost destroyed the synagogue and the entire ghetto. Lev had to erase the first letter on the Golem’s forehead, turning it into the word “death.” In an instant, the Golem turned into a pile of clay. The rabbi collected it and placed it in the attic of the Old New Synagogue. He walled up the entrance to the attic. Today the Synagogue is open to the public and it is said that the shadow of the Golem can still be seen looming in the attic at night.
A mystical aura envelops Prague even today. If you dare to go to Visegrad at midnight, you have a chance to see a lot of creepy and mysterious things. Here there are witnesses to meetings with the dead who appear during midnight masses. The sentries of one of the artillery depots located next to the old cemetery abandoned their post more than once, hiding from the black afterlife carriage, driven by a headless coachman and drawn by headless black horses. A black ghostly dog with bloody eyes and a fiery tongue brings particular horror to late pedestrians. If you are lucky enough to survive the encounter with the dog, and you notice the place where he was spinning like a wheel, you have a chance to find the entrance to the cellars of the Visegrad Mountain, where countless treasures are stored.
In one of the city cemeteries there is a grave with the image of the girl Anichka. They say that during the birth of a child, a mistake occurred in the family of a poor musician, and the soul of a restless angel was infused into the newborn girl. So an angel appeared on earth, illuminating everything around with his beautiful soul. Anichka’s life was not easy; she felt in her heart that she had to help everyone - both honest people and criminals. Many often abused her kindness. Finally, God had mercy and took the angel back to heaven - Anichka was playing by the window and, reaching for a toy, fell out of it.
Text: Hanna Rolinska
Super tour and super guide. We took the tour with young children. Darwin was able to interest both adults and, most importantly, children. We learned a lot of new and interesting things. Darwina was dressed appropriately in a long robe, which added more mysticism to the excursion. Very good guide.
Darina, thank you for the interesting mystical excursion! My son and I are delighted! I had goosebumps throughout the whole excursion from Prague stories! But I remembered all the information; my son later called all the historical heroes by name at Madame Tussauds! If they taught history like this in school, everyone would know it perfectly: thumbs_up: I definitely recommend it!
Darina is a pleasant guide. The excursion “Mystical Prague” is very interesting and exciting. We selected it specifically for our 9 year old daughter. Both my daughter and I enjoyed visiting the secret places of Prague with Darina. According to previous reviews, they expected a terrible sensation, but it wasn’t scary, even for my daughter, it was very funny and interesting. Darina is a very wonderful storyteller, the special raincoat and gloves fit very well into the plot of the excursion. Darina instantly answered additional questions throughout the entire excursion; it is noticeable that she has a very good knowledge of the history of the Czech Republic. It’s a pity that the excursion was on the last day of our stay in Prague and we were not able to take advantage of Darina’s very interesting tips on visiting the sights.
We recommend it with pleasure, especially to families with children!
Darina, thank you for meeting our expectations
We are very glad that we went on the excursion. We had a 6 year old child with us. I really liked it. She was not frightened by stories about ghosts and restless souls. She was ready to “fight” them. The weather was a little let down and we were not dressed for the weather, but most importantly the child was dressed for the weather. A lot of interesting. There wasn't enough of a real ghost, but I think that if it weren't for the second child's scare about ghosts, we would have been lucky and would have encountered a ghost. The impressions of the excursion are very warm.
We went on an excursion with Darina. I liked everything: she is charming, friendly, presents the material well, has a sense of humor and has a great audience orientation. We felt very comfortable and interesting with her. If we come again and decide to choose an individual guide, we will look for her.
THANKS A LOT!
Many thanks to Daria for a magical mystical evening in Prague at night. So much new information. We discovered new places that you definitely need to visit.
I really enjoyed the excursion; I went with my 10-year-old son. In the morning we went to the sightseeing tour, in the evening we took this one. We took a fresh look at the Jewish Quarter and an interesting chemical laboratory. The only thing I would like is for it to have a tour in Russian.
We really enjoyed the excursion! The eldest daughter, 13 years old, said that now she will only go on such excursions. The very friendly guide Dasha told us many interesting details in a humorous manner. Very memorable in this presentation, I highly recommend it, especially in combination with the Alchemy Museum - a real alchemical laboratory found after the flood!
Prague is one of the most mystical cities in Europe, and perhaps the whole world. G. Myripk, a writer and financier (according to rumors, used forbidden occult techniques in the fight against competitors), gives his definition of the uniqueness of Prague: “Other cities, no matter how ancient they may be, seem to me to be slaves of those who live in them; they are like as if disinfected with some strong sterilizing acid - Prague controls its inhabitants like puppets: pulling their strings from the first to the last breath "... The magical essence of the city is best manifested in the low season, when autumn or spring fogs enter Prague from the Vltava - Moldau rivers return full rights of citizenship to the ghosts of different centuries and eras.
The modern capital of the Czech Republic was made up of four cities: Hradcany (which grew up around the royal fortress - Grad), the trade and university Old Town (Stare Mesto), founded for the German colonists by King Přemysl Otakar II quarter of Lesser Town and, finally, the New Town (New Town) built by Emperor Charles IV Place). Each of these cities had its own laws, rights and privileges. They merged into a single administrative system only in 1784. If we add here the ancient knightly Vysehrad and the Old Jewish Town, united with Prague only in 1850, then there are already six Prague cities.
The ancient Slavic city was founded in the 9th century by the princess-prophetess Libushe near the town of Melnik, where at the confluence of the Vltava and Laba waters the paths of Cech, Lech and Rus diverged.
The most ancient ghosts surround two Prague strongholds that acted as antitheses in history - the imperial residence of the Castle and the disgraced Vysehrad, with which, however, the first events of Czech history are connected. The wise and beautiful princess-prophet Libushe, the founder of the Visegrad fortress on the rock above the Vltava, ordered the hero Přemysl to be brought to her straight from the plow to make him her husband. From their marriage came the dynasty of Czech kings. After Libuse's death, her friends tried to defend the matriarchal order in the famous War of the Maidens, but were defeated.
It is believed that Libuše did not lay down the burden of caring for her people even after her death. Her messenger - a headless knight - appears under the walls of Visegrad. He is tasked with finding out what life is like for Czechs in the Czech lands and reporting this to his mistress. (Popular belief in its poetic vision does not consider the absence of a head to be an obstacle to this task). If Libuše receives news that the Czechs need her help, she can stand up for her people. They say that under the cliff on which the Visegrad Castle was built, the knights of Libuše have been sleeping for more than a thousand years, ready to awaken at the word of their mistress.
Legend tells that Libuše, accompanied by young maidens, often went to the bathhouse under the walls of Vyšehrad. It is believed that when twilight falls on Prague, beauties from the last millennium appear in the place where they served their mistress, and a late traveler can hear their enchanting singing. In fact, the romantic Libuše bathhouse on the southern side of the fortress is the ruins of a 15th-century watchtower: river ships brought food here and lifted it up through a hollow in the rock.
The gloomy spirits of pagan times swirl, gathering near the City. They come from that era when the ancient gods of the Slavs desperately resisted the advent of a new faith. The founder of the City, Prince Borivoj (850-895), together with his wife Lyudmila, was converted to Christianity by the creator of the Slavic alphabet, Methodius. Borivoy had a son, Vorotislav. He himself was a good Christian, but his wife Dragomira, although she was baptized, followed pagan customs. After the death of Vorotislav, Dragomira became the ruler-regent under her young son Vyacheslav. A pagan not only by faith, but also by character, Dragomira was distinguished by her irrepressible disposition. Surrounding herself with like-minded people, she tried to turn back the history of the Czech Republic, reviving pre-Christian orders. Lyudmila tried to ensure that Dragomira was removed from board affairs. But the treacherous princess took cruel revenge on her mother-in-law. The assassins they sent broke into Lyudmila while she was praying and strangled her. This happened in 927. Folk legend tells of the terrible end of Dragomira.
One day she left Prague Castle to make a sacrifice to pagan deities. Along the way, Dragomira shouted curses at Christianity. Her blasphemies did not go unpunished - suddenly the earth opened up, sulfur flames blazed from the chasm, and the chariot with the princess was swallowed up by the hellish abyss. Prague residents know that Dragomira can appear in our time on a carriage engulfed in hellish fire without a coachman. On dark and stormy nights, amid the reflections of lightning and the howling of the wind, hellish horses carry her through the streets of Hradcan. Another legend says that the soul of the princess, who has not received repose, appears once a year in the form of a fiery dog at the Church of St. Mikulasha.
Modern Cathedral of St. Vita (XIV century) includes an ancient chapel dedicated to the patron saint of the Czech lands, the holy passion-bearer Vyacheslav (Vaclav), the son of Vorotislav and Dragomira, who was killed in September 935. A door with a handle in the shape of a lion's head leads into the luxuriously decorated chapel - it was this that the martyr prince grabbed hold of as he fell under the mortal blows. From the chapel of St. Wenceslas has a passage to the treasury where the royal regalia is kept - they are shown to the public only on special occasions. The crown of St. is also kept in this storeroom. Vaclav. Legend claims that anyone who dares to try on the crown of the holy prince will die a terrible death. The last person to take the crown was the German protector of Bohemia and Moravia, Heydrich. Soon after this, his car was blown up by Czechoslovak saboteurs.
The Charles Bridge, built by master Peter Parler on the instructions of King Charles IV of the Luxembourg dynasty, connects not only Lesser Town with the Old Town - this bridge seems to have been thrown across centuries. During the era of the Crusades, the most important strategic crossing on the route that was supposed to end in Jerusalem was located here. There is evidence that the Charles Bridge was built in accordance with astrological and numerological prescriptions. Its sculpture gallery preserves the memory of sacred milestones of Czech history. According to legend, the place where the famous Prague knight stands was marked in ancient times by a pagan temple, and the idol, overthrown from here, still lies at the bottom of the river. The island of Kampa, covered by a bridge, is separated from Mala Strana by a channel called Chertovka. This name did not arise by chance - mills have stood here since ancient times (and millers, as you know, are known with evil spirits). One of the houses remained in Prague history under the name “At the Seven Devils”.
But there is also a spirit of holiness on the bridge. Between the sixth and seventh bays there is a statue of the holy bishop John of Nepomuk (Nepomuk). From this very place in 1393 the Prague archbishop was thrown into the river. Tradition says that King Wenceslas IV doomed him to death for refusing to reveal the queen's secret confession. Today, generally speaking, not very religious Czechs come to the statue to entrust their deepest secrets to Jan Nepomuk and make wishes (which they believe will be granted).
We have not yet named many Prague ghosts here. A silver horseman appears on Vratislavova Street - King Přemysl Otakar II; on Celetnaya, near Carolinum University, you can meet the ghosts of a prostitute and a priest (once an angry servant of God killed a harlot here and suddenly died from a stroke); in the pub “U Ribar” (and they say that in many other pubs too), a late visitor is not immune from meeting the melancholy Master Palekh, who once betrayed Jan Hus to death. A large number of ghosts are associated with the medieval community of alchemists and with the Jewish diaspora.
It has been suggested that the abundance of ghosts in Prague is explained by some natural phenomenon, for example, the presence of radioactive rocks in the ground. But Prague itself, with its architectural landscape, remains the strongest factor influencing human consciousness. G. Meyrink, who never tired of being amazed by the city on the Vltava, admitted: “This fantastic Gothic with its sculptures, as if cast from dried blood! No matter how much I look at her, she never ceases to excite my soul.”
edited news Elfin - 1-11-2013, 07:06
