-
A peasant girl haunts Liechtenstein Palace
The miller’s daughter tried to break into society by attending a ball at Liechtenstein Palace but it ended in tragedy. Every young woman wants to be popular. On Kampa Island, near Charles…
-
Pierre de Lasenic, a modern occultist led a mysterious life
Books by the 20th-century occultist Pierre de Lasenic remain in print but the man is an enigma. When people think of the occult in Prague, the time of Rudolf II comes to mind. But…
-
The devil chef of Emauzy
The centuries-old monastery once had some devilishly good food made by a devil chef. The monastery at Emauzy looks pleasant enough from a distance, with its modern concrete wing-shaped spires added in…
-
The valiant legend of Horymír and his talking horse Šemík
A knight tried to stop a famine by urging the prince to turn away from silver. Greed drives rulers to become shortsighted tyrants. Bohemia was once filled with silver ore. Back in…
-
Built with the Devil’s help, Part III: Karlov
The big dome at the Church of St Charlemagne in Karlov is simply to die for. Making a large building or a bridge requires a lot of complex math and engineering. But…
-
Built with the Devil’s help, Part II: Kinský Palace
Kinský Palace may have some dark secrets buried in its foundation. Making a large building or a bridge requires a lot of complex math and engineering. But back in the Middle Ages…
-
Built with the Devil’s help, Part I: Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge was falling down until an architect made a deal. Making a large building or a bridge requires a lot of complex math and engineering. But back in the Middle Ages…
-
Headless Laura and the Invisible Nun
Some buildings have become home to several restless spirits. The Czech Museum of Music doesn’t look too scary now, but in its long history it has attracted two or three ghosts. One…
-
Rival ghosts haunt the House at the Golden Well
Old Town’s iconic House at the Golden Well is also home to legends of greed and murder. One of the most striking facades on the route from Charles Bridge to Old Town…
-
Edward Kelley and his Bohemian adventures
British alchemist Edward Kelley went from highs to lows to a premature death in the Rudolfine era. When it comes to alchemists in Bohemia working under Rudolf II, two names stand out:…
-
Alchemist and seer John Dee languishes in Bohemia
John Dee was once an adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, but he saw his fortunes decline in Prague. The scholarly John Dee will likely always be remembered for getting caught up with…
-
Cursed trios reside on the facades of three Prague houses
Building names hold clues to some gruesome tales about unfortunate trios of people. Older buildings in Prague are known not by their numbers but by distinctive names, and corresponding pictures are often…
