Mystical Prague excursion forum. Legends of old Prague
There is probably no more mystical and chilling symbol of the Middle Ages in Prague than the astronomical clock. This amazing creation contains the terrible story of its creator, watchmaker Hanush. One day, this talented master proposed to the city authorities the creation of a special clock that could not only decorate the municipal building, but also turn Prague into a unique and beautiful city in Europe. The mayor and the company consulted briefly and gave the go-ahead. The inspired watchmaker, who was also a professor of mathematics and astronomy at the university, immediately got to work. He spent days and nights drawing his monumental creation, and when he realized that the professor should not waste his energy on boring drawing work, he hired an assistant, the young man Jakub Cech.
On the day of the watch's presentation in 1492, a stunned crowd looked at the rare beauty of the clock mechanism, while Hanush, proud and happy, tried to explain to the inhabitants (though without much success) the meaning of this strange “time machine”. One thing was certain among the ignorant townspeople: the exclusivity of Prague and its inevitable recognition as the most glorious city in Europe.
Features of Prague clocks
Three main elements were taken as the basis for the watch: an astronomical disk indicating the time of day, the position of the Sun, Moon and other cosmic details; animated figures including the twelve apostles; circular calendar with medallions representing the 12 months of the year.
The astronomical disk is made in the shape of an astrolabe - the main instrument of medieval astronomy and navigation. It depicts the Earth, the sky and the elements surrounding them: the Zodiac ring, the rotating disk, the Sun and the Moon.
The dark blue circle in the center represents the view of the Earth from space, the light blue one represents the sky above the horizon. During the day, the sun is in the blue part of the dial, and at night it turns into a dark blue zone. The left, eastern, side of the clock symbolizes dawn and sunrise, the western - sunset and twilight. Roman numerals on a blue background indicate the time of day. The time difference between sunrise and sunset is also indicated here, which varies depending on the season.
The inner black circle represents the signs of the Zodiac and the location of the Sun in each of them. All signs are arranged counterclockwise in order, and the North Pole is taken as the reference point - a common occurrence for astronomical clocks of that period. A small golden star indicates the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, and Roman numerals serve to measure sidereal time. There are gold numbers along the outer edge of the watch. They show the time of day of Bohemia (ancient Czech Republic), in which the countdown of the new day began at one in the morning.
The mechanical sun moves in an ellipse around the Zodiac ring. Moreover, it is connected to an arrow, at the end of which there is a golden hand. Together, they show time in different ways: the position of the golden hand above the Roman numerals indicates the local time in Prague; the placement of the sun on curved golden lines shows unequal hours; the golden hand on the outer ring indicates the hours after sunrise, according to Bohemian time. The distance between the sun and the center of the dial shows the time between sunset and sunrise.
The circular calendar indicates the months of the year with 12 medallions and is surrounded by figures of a philosopher, an angel, an astronomer and a historian.
The four figures on either side of the clock embody four allegories: Vanity is represented by a man with a mirror, Greed is represented by a Jewish merchant with a bag, Death is represented by a skeleton killing time, Lust is represented by a Turkish prince playing a mandolin.
Every hour from 9 am to 9 pm the figures begin to move. The vain one looks in the mirror, the greedy one moves his bag, the skeleton shakes his scythe and pulls the rope, the lustful one nods his head in anticipation of new prey. At the same time, the procession of the twelve apostles takes place. They move slowly, taking turns looking out the open windows. The procession is led by the figure of the Apostle San Pedro. When the window sashes close, a rooster crows loudly and flaps its wings, after which the chimes strike...
Tragic ending
Time passed, the passions around the clock subsided, and Master Hanush became bored. His restless soul required creative release, and very soon he again began to sit in the workshop for new drawings. No one really knew about the master’s idea, but evil tongues said that Hanush was inspired by the idea of creating even more spectacular watches for customers from abroad, and for a very substantial fee. Overwhelmed by jealousy, the Prague authorities became worried and decided to “neutralize” the imprudent watchmaker. The mere thought that something greater than the small miracle of Prague could appear in another country made their state blood and minds boil. The decision - cruel and dramatic - was made by them immediately. Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, three people entered Hanush's workshop, where he was still working by candlelight and a lit fireplace. The master, taken by surprise, was mercilessly dragged towards the fire and his eyes were burned out with a hot iron...
Time passed, but the blind watchmaker remained in the dark about who could have committed such cruelty. Hanush's health was deteriorating day by day, and his books, drawings and drawings were covered with dust... Meanwhile, the townspeople, as usual, came to admire his clock on the city hall building.
One day, someone from Hanush’s entourage finally found out the truth and did not hesitate to inform him about it. Stung by such villainy and ingratitude, the master made a sad decision and asked his assistant Yakub to take him to the clock tower. Once there, he gathered his last strength and put his right hand into the clockwork with one goal: to destroy it. At that very moment, Death pulled the rope, the gears made an ominous sound, and everything stopped, including the life of Hanush, who fell dead next to his creation. Since then, local residents have said that a curse will fall on anyone who tries to fix the clock: he will go crazy or die quickly. The legend is a legend, but more than 100 years passed before it was possible to restore the most complex mechanism of the Hanush clock.
Scary superstitions
In Prague they say that stopping the clock is a bad omen for the country. It may just be a coincidence, but in 2002, when the clocks suddenly stopped, the Vltava overflowed its banks and flooded the city, causing severe damage to city buildings and the subway. In 2007, due to high humidity, the clock malfunctioned again, and local residents, in horror, threw all their efforts into fixing the clock mechanism. Of course, these are just superstitions and legends, but in such a magical city as Prague, everything is possible...
If you want to look at Prague from a different side and take a non-trivial excursion, then I advise you to go on an excursion called “Mystical Prague”.
This excursion is relevant here like in no other city, because the history of Prague is shrouded in many secrets, legends, and mystical stories. If you want to listen to stories about the Inquisition, the Jesuits, and find out where the alchemist museum is, then this is definitely the place for you.
The tour begins at 19:00, when dusk falls on Prague, in the very heart of the city - on. A guide dressed as a skeleton will tell you the legends of the city that still terrify its inhabitants. The excursion route passes through labyrinths of ancient streets that you probably won’t get to on your own.
The skeleton will tell you where in Prague you can meet a headless monk or a merman. During the tour, you will enjoy the fabulous lighting that envelops the deserted streets of mysterious Prague.
Through legends you will better understand the history of the city, since you will not be burdened with historical facts and dates. You will learn the legend about the giant clay Golem, the legend about Dalibor, the silver fish, the legend about the origin of Prague, the legend about Faust, the legend about the bell ringer of the Temple of St. Vitus, the legend about the Orloj clock, shoes made of bread. Reading these legends is not so interesting; a walk immersing yourself in the atmosphere of the city through the places to which these stories and legends relate will be much more interesting.
Children especially love to take this excursion, because on no other excursion will you hear so many stories about sorcerers, spirits, magicians, ghosts, apparitions, and evil spirits...
Please note that your guide must be wearing a skeleton costume. The cost of the excursion is 10-50 Euros per person. The duration of the excursion is 2 hours.
If you are interested in the excursion, you can buy it on the website. This excursion is also available in an individual version on the website.
Many people know that Prague is called the mystical capital not only of the Czech Republic, but of the whole of Europe.
Gustav Meyrink, a writer and financier (who was rumored to have 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 seem disinfected with some strong sterilizing acid - Prague controls its inhabitants like puppets: pulling their strings from their first to their last breath."
But why did the city achieve such fame?
Let's create an excursion route to answer this question.
1. Attraction: Clock tower in the central square of Prague
The 15th century astronomical clock is located in the Clock Tower in the central square of Prague. The dial shows not only the time, but also the zodiac sign, sunrise and sunset, both sun and moon, calendar and lunar phase. Every hour the skeleton rings a bell by pulling a rope. They say that the only one who knew how the clock worked was its creator. According to legend, the advisors, fearing that similar clocks would be created in other cities and Prague would no longer be their sole owner, attacked the master and blinded him. Despite his blindness, he lived to a ripe old age, and at the end of his life he took revenge on the city that thanked him so much for creating the unique watch. One day he walked up to the clock, put his hand on the mechanism, and the gears began to move many times faster, and then stopped. The clock did not work for more than 100 years until a craftsman was found who could repair it.
2. Attraction: Old New Synagogue
Rabbi Levi - one of the most brilliant thinkers of his time, is known in history as a magician and wizard. He led the Jewish community in Prague for more than 30 years. His temple, called the Old New Synagogue, is not only the oldest operating in Europe, but also the most mysterious. The oldest synagogue in Europe was built in medieval times. A fire in 1687 reduced most of it to smoldering ruins. Rabbi Levi was not only a spiritual director, but also a master of the Jewish mystical teaching known as Kabbalah. Kabbalah is an ancient Jewish spiritual teaching, according to which those who comprehend it acquire magical power. In a word, according to legend, Rabbi Levi comprehended Kabbalah and learned the mysterious formula for creating an artificial person, who received the name Golem. According to the Jewish theory of mysticism, imitation of the acts of God is not a forbidden form of magic. According to legend, Rabbi Levi went down to the river with his student and son-in-law, where he sculpted a figure of a man from clay, performed a mysterious ritual, wrote a word in Hebrew on his forehead, which translated means “Truth” - after which the Golem came to life.
3. Attraction: Golem
The Golem was created to protect the Jewish community from anti-Semitism. But one day the Golem refused to obey its creator and tried to destroy the old synagogue, so Rabbi Levi had to destroy it. He erased the first of the letters written on his forehead, after which he got the word meaning “to die” - this is what killed him. Rabbi Levi collected the ashes of the Golem and buried them in the attic of the Old New Synagogue and walled up the door there. Prague's biggest secret remains unsolved - whether the ashes remained in the attic of the synagogue or were moved, and whether they were there at all. The legend of the Golem still lives on, connecting the past, present and future. The legendary Golem was destroyed in the 15th century. But the Czech legend has influenced literature, cinema, art, music and even science. (Book and film - Frankenstein, science - cloning, creation of robots, computer characters).
4. Landmark: House of Faust
The mysterious House of Faust is located in Prague. According to legend, the German scientist and warlock Johann Faust lived here. Using devilish power, the doctor studied astrology and had intentions of deciphering the secret of the movement of the planets. The decrepit, blind scientist, during his meditations, suddenly felt that the secrets of the Universe had finally been revealed to him. At the same moment, the ceiling vault parted, and a mad whirlwind carried away the unfortunate Faust to fulfill the terms of the agreement with Mephistopheles. Since then, the townspeople considered the house a haven of evil spirits and tried to avoid it.
Later, the most famous version of the legend of Doctor Faustus was reflected in one of the most striking works of the outstanding German poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe.
5. Landmark: Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is one of the most popular and famous landmarks of Prague. It has an amazing history and legend of its creation: they say that in order to be able to build this beautiful bridge, the architect had to make a deal with the devil. 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 Certovka. 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”.
6. Landmark: statue of Bishop John of Nepomuk
It is believed that the spirit of holiness is also present on the Charles 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).
7. Attraction: Vysehrad
Some of the first events in Czech history are associated with Visegrad. Princess-prophetess Libuše, the founder of the Visegrad fortress on a 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.
8. Attraction: Prague Castle
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 Borzhivoy (850-895), together with his wife Lyudmila, was converted to Christianity by the creator of the Slavic alphabet, Methodius. Borzhivoj had a son, Vratislav. He himself was a good Christian, but his wife Dragomira, although she was baptized, followed pagan customs. After the death of Vratislav, Dragomira became the ruler-regent under her young son Vaclav. 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.
9. Attraction: Museum of Ghosts and Legends of Prague
The museum does not set itself the goal of scaring tourists; on the contrary, it introduces the history and legends of the capital of the Czech Republic.
On the ground floor, guests are greeted by a book of legends, which is guarded by the spirit of Prague. Here, in different languages of the world, you can learn the stories of ghosts, as well as the places where they appear.
In the underground part of the museum there are streets of the Old City with ghosts and ghosts. Here guests will meet: a Golem, a devil, a headless Templar, gnomes and many other heroes of traditions and legends.
The Museum of Ghosts and Legends hosts "scare nights" where the museum's inhabitants frighten visitors.
10. Ghosts on the streets of the city
- Headless Templar
For many years, among Prague residents there has been a rumor about a handsome Templar knight, doomed to eternal night wanderings through the mysterious labyrinth of the ancient streets of the Old Town. The graceful white horse, without which the knight was never seen, gives the knight a special romanticism. The Templar holds his noble head in his hands and begs passers-by to free his soul. However, giving him freedom is not easy. What will save him from his mortal ghostly existence is not just strength, but also courage. It is necessary to stop the snow-white horse, grab the sword and mercilessly thrust it into the very heart of the Templar. An eerie headless Templar wanders between midnight and one in the morning along Liliova Street - picturesque but frightening.
- Murdered Nun
At night, a ghost known as the ghost of the murdered nun haunts the Jewish Quarter around the Convent of St. Agnes. However, according to legend, the murdered girl never became a nun. The sight is quite sad: a bloodied girl walks and sobs. However, if your heart is lonely and broken, then she will feel it and smile at you with a caring, understanding smile. Legend says that this girl is the daughter of rich and very noble parents. She had the misfortune of falling in love with a poor noble knight. Upon learning of this, her father became angry. Of course, there was no question of a wedding because the knight was a man belonging to the lower class. Wanting to punish his daughter for disobedience, the father promised to send her to the monastery of St. Agnes. On the last night before leaving, the unfortunate future nun wanted to see her lover... However, her father became aware of this. And he not only prevented the meeting, he angrily attacked his own daughter and mercilessly stabbed her to death. They say that one day this ghost stopped a girl who was about to poison herself because she could not live happily with her lover. The ghost took the poison away from the girl, after which he placed a bag of money in the unfortunate woman’s hands instead, advising the girl to live calmly, happily and richly with her lover, without thinking about anything bad and without remembering the misfortunes she had experienced.
- The Miller's Daughter
This ghost is also a young girl, but she is not very generous. According to legend, the girl was the daughter of the richest miller in Novaya Strana, one of the districts of Prague. She was quite spoiled and always got what she wanted. But, as usually happens, she wanted even more. The cherished desire of the miller's daughter was high society. She always wanted to be a part of it. However, none of the upper class young men asked her to marry, and she almost despaired. But having learned about the ball of noble persons taking place in the Liechtenstein Palace, she again remembered her dream and wished to receive an invitation there. The unfortunate caring father used all possible means and connections to get this invitation for his beloved daughter, but everything was useless. Nobody wanted to see a simpleton at the ball. But the persistent girl did not stop. She made a fatal mistake - she made a deal with the devil! The devil himself brought her to the ball at the palace. Imagine her disappointment when absolutely none of the guests present paid the slightest attention to her! Noble ladies did not talk to the miller's daughter, and stately gentlemen did not ask her to dance. The vain girl was so upset and outraged that she became hysterical and screamed at the whole room until she was forcibly taken home to her father. Since then, she lived calmly and did not strive for high society, remembering her shame and, most importantly, the deal. She also died quietly and calmly, a natural death. However, because of the bloody deal, the unfortunate woman was obliged to return to the ill-fated Liechtenstein Palace. But already a ghost. The ghost she made turned out to be quite disgusting. It’s as if she’s taking revenge on the whole world: she knocks down older people, chases young boys, shouting and persuading them to dance, and even rushes at beautiful young girls, scratching their faces, biting them until not a trace of beauty remains.
The miller's daughter can be found in the Liechtenstein Palace on the embankment near Charles Bridge. Street U Sovových mlýnů 506/4. However, it is hardly worth looking for a meeting with her: this is one of the most dangerous ghosts!
- Fat merchant
This ghost is very friendly. During his life, he was not interested in money, gold, or jewelry. His only goal was food! It would be difficult to find a greater glutton in the entire Czech Republic. He had the biggest belly in the country! He ate his fill even when others were starving to death. One evening the fat man came to his favorite pub, Valdstejnska, located near the modern Senate building. The merchant immediately ate a whole huge turkey with several side dishes, ate two roasted geese and washed down all this gluttony with twenty bottles of wine. It seemed that the fat man had eaten his fill, but was still sitting in the pub. At this time a beggar came there. Seeing the merchant have a piece of bread left over from a hearty lunch, the beggar asked to give it to him. But the fat merchant only laughed in the beggar’s face. Of course, the gluttonous merchant did not share his food with the poor man. He got angry and wished the impudent glutton to burst! And so it happened: the merchant burst, sparing the remaining piece of bread for the beggar. However, even after death he is punished. He wanders somewhere around the New Country, constantly sad and self-pitying. His soul can only be freed if the homeless man takes pity on him. But so far not a single beggar has shed a tear or offered the fat man a piece of bread.
The fat merchant can be found at night in New Country on Tomasska street 20/16.
- Iron Man
The ghost of Iron Man is so popular in Prague that they even erected a monument to him in the Old Town. His name is Joachim Berka. They say that this unfortunate man has been yearning for freedom for about four hundred years, even more. Once upon a time he was engaged to his beloved. They were already planning a happy wedding, but war broke out in the country and Joachim had to leave his beloved and defend his native Czech Republic. During his absence, rumors spread around the city that Joachim's fiancee had not remained faithful. He found out about this when he returned from the war. At first Joachim was very upset, but then he married another good girl who lived next door. However, the rumors turned out to be slander, and the former bride drowned herself in grief. Her father felt incredibly disgraced, so he also committed suicide, but in a different way: he jumped from a high tower. Joachim Berka, of course, soon found out about everything, and his conscience began to torment him endlessly. He realized that he was mistaken. He decided to atone for his mistake quite radically: on Good Friday, the young man strangled his wife, after which he hanged himself. As you can see, according to legend, he did not die a natural death, so there is nothing surprising in his mental lack of freedom. The ghost still haunts Platnerska Street.
- Skeleton Beggar
The Prague ghost of a skeletal beggar wanders after sunset every day in the neighborhood near Carolinum (part of Charles University). If passers-by are sober, he won’t even approach them. But from those who are “tipsy,” he constantly begs for money. The Skeleton's story is quite sad. During his lifetime he was an unusually tall and handsome young man. His name was Vincent, and he worked at the Faculty of Medicine, which was formerly called Carolinum. The anatomy professor always admired the young man’s amazing growth, and even honestly told Vincent that he dreamed of seeing his skeleton in his collection. The young man had a job, but was still very poor, so he invited the old professor right then, while Vincent was still alive, to buy his skeleton. The professor was delighted and agreed, giving the young man a considerable amount of money. To celebrate, the young man spent every last crown on alcohol and gambling. That same evening, during a fight in a bar, he was killed by drunken drinking buddies. Since then, the skeleton beggar has been wandering the streets of Prague and asking for money from drunken passers-by he meets along the way. He still cherishes the hope of buying his freedom from the professor.
Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, always mysterious and beautiful, regardless of the time of year. Coming here, you get the feeling that it continues to live its medieval life, allowing inquisitive travelers only a glimpse into its great and sometimes mystical past. So what kind of beauty is she - Prague?
In this ancient city, there is always a feeling of some kind of duality and understatement: Prague seems simple, and at the same time mysterious and captivating with the gold of its facades and spiers, red tile roofs, many fairy tales and legends born in the tangle of its tangled, narrow streets . The best time to learn Prague myths and legends is winter, when the city is shrouded in an openwork snow shawl; at this time it is especially romantic. The city is very good for people who are simply delighted with the medieval streets, with old houses that look like they came out of a picture from their favorite book. Men in Prague are attracted by the famous beer halls, which produce tasty and light beer according to original recipes that have been preserved since the Middle Ages. And none of the family members will be left indifferent by the architectural beauty of the city and the mysteries of history associated with it.
So, what is Prague like? Why is her name persistently associated with mysticism? The name of the city “Prague” means “threshold” in Czech. You may ask: what is so mystical here? It is, in fact, a kind of threshold, a line between everyday life and the secrets hidden behind its ancient facades. Prague was built taking into account astrological laws; just a few centuries ago, the city would have been recognized as a world alchemical and esoteric center. The city's second-hand bookstores even sell guides to mystical Prague.
We recommend starting your tour of this fabulous city with a visit to the Charles Bridge - one of the main symbols of the city, a construction and... culinary masterpiece. “Culinary” - because when mixing the solution that held the stones together, milk and eggs were added to it for strength. But since there was not enough food in Prague itself, King Charles the Fourth ordered to send a cartload of eggs from each Czech village. Everyone did just that, only the residents of the village of Velvara, worried that the eggs would go rotten on the way, also took care of boiling them... There is another interesting legend concerning the Charles Bridge. They say that the Dalai Lama once visited Prague and stated that the location of the bridge is exactly at the “center of the Universe”; there is no negative energy here. So when you are on the Charles Bridge, be sure to listen to your feelings, is that true? By the way, if you are on the Charles Bridge, be sure to feed the seagulls - “for good luck.”
From this bridge, Charles Street leads to the city center, covered with even more legends, and it’s not even worth talking about the number of attractions on it - there are a great many of them. We’ll tell you just one legend about Charles Street, so as not to take away bread from the hardworking tour guides. In Prague, there is a myth about a crazy barber, whose presence with a razor in his hands is often seen by both local residents and guests of the city in inclement weather or on a full moon. This unfortunate barber lived during the reign of the Czech king Rudolf II. One night, great knowledge descended on him, and he decided to take up alchemy. He spent all his property acquired through back-breaking labor in search of the philosopher's stone. When he spent his savings, he mortgaged his house, but went bankrupt without discovering anything, and as a result he went crazy. And so he died. But his soul cannot calm down in any way, since, as they say, he received great knowledge in exchange for it. So he continues to this day, meeting passers-by in the dark and threatening them with a straight razor, demanding money from them to continue his mystical experiments. True, according to the latest eyewitness accounts, he no longer asks for money, but simply offers to shave.
There is also Charles Square in Prague, but it is located quite far from the bridge and the street. This square has long been considered the mystical esoteric center of Europe. They say that in the house at number forty on the above-mentioned square lived the famous Doctor Faust - a magician and warlock who sold his soul to the devil and it was from this house that the devil took him with him, they flew straight through the roof, and the hole gaped in the roof for many years. No matter how they tried to patch it, nothing worked: the hole appeared again and again. Only today, the roof was repaired, and they decided to open the Alchemy Museum in the house - the most interesting in the world.
The next mystical place in Prague is Vysehrad. This is a fortress-cathedral located on the rocky banks of the Vltava River, where the very first princes and kings of the Czech Republic lived. The famous princess Libushe, who predicted world fame for Prague, also lived here. In Visegrad you can admire stunning sights - the Rotunda of St. Martin, the famous Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. But tourists are attracted here by Visegrad legends. After all, without hearing myths and mysterious stories, you will not understand “what is this Prague like?” They say that in this fortress King Matthias kept the world-famous Count Dracula imprisoned for twelve years for his atrocities. And in the garden of this fortress there are stones that the devil himself brought, although for what purpose he did this, the legend does not explain.
Visegrad has its own ghost - the French major who commanded the troops that captured the city in 1741. Here he died heroically, and ever since then, his restless spirit began to wander through these places. For a long time, he was a real punishment for the caretakers and sentries of the fortress, as he appeared not only at night, tickling the sentries and attacking patrols, but also during the day, frightening tourists. Everything continued until the end of the nineteenth century, until the spirit of the violent major was pacified. One tourist, with the rank of lieutenant, seeing the silhouette of a man in uniform, and not even realizing that it was a ghost, greeted him according to military regulations, saluting him, as it should be. Then the ghost of the major smiled and, patting the tourist by the shoulders, disappeared. Since then, if the spirit of the major appeared in Visegrad, he was always in a good mood, nodded to passers-by, greeting them, and when the military saluted him, he was very happy. In general, he behaves as a respectable ghost should.
Next, the mystical guide to Prague leads us to the Jewish quarter of Josefov - this is an old, very cozy area, where there are squat houses and beautiful synagogues. A legend about the Golem, the first man created by the hands of a magician, is associated with this place. They say that Rabbi Rabbi Levi lived in this quarter, who loved to practice magic in his free time. And so, one night, sitting on the shore, he molded a man from river clay, calling him Golem. Every day Levi put a magical “sign of life” into the hole on the Golem’s forehead, and he went to protect the Jews. In the evening the magician took out this record. But one day, he forgot to do this, and the Golem got out of control and began to destroy everything. After that he disappeared somewhere. But to this day, the servants of the Old Synagogue - the oldest in Central Europe - are afraid to go down into the basements of the building, as they fear that the Golem is still hiding there. Interestingly, apartments in this area of Prague are the most expensive in the country, which leads to the idea that the locals are not as timid as the clergy.
Mysticism is also associated with Golden Lane; it was built this way because gold minters and the Prague poor used to live here. The houses on the street look like gingerbread houses: multi-level, small, painted in bright colors. Now no one lives in them; they are rented out to sellers of souvenirs, old books and lace scarves. Nearby stands the Belvedere - the wonderful palace of Queen Anne - also a place shrouded in secrets and legends. This residence of the Habsburgs was the center of alchemy in the Czech Republic, and the alchemists themselves settled in the gingerbread houses of Golden Lane. By the way, there is a legend that there is a “House at the Last Lantern” on it, under which a huge treasure is buried. But only a person with magical powers can see this house. So, you can go and check, what if the treasure has been waiting for you all this time?
Well, so, have you realized how mysterious Prague is? It is clear that the cultural and architectural monuments of the Middle Ages have always become the source of various legends and traditions, which were not always based on reliable facts, but, nevertheless, has this made Prague any less beautiful and delightful? Be sure to visit this wonderful and mysterious city to feel its elusive charm for yourself.
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.
