-
The fortuneteller of the Golden Lane
Madame de Thebes read cards at Prague Castle’s Golden Lane but fell afoul of the Gestapo. One of the big attractions of Prague Castle is the Golden Lane. Legends claim it was…
-
The Devil’s Column is due to a diabolical bet
Some see a broken stone pillar as evidence that a demon named Zardan visited Prague. The history of Vyšehrad goes back to the very foundation of Prague, and the walled fortress-like area…
-
The Iron Knight at Prague’s City Hall is a jealous ghost
The statue of an Iron Knight at City Hall relates to a gruesome ghost story. Prague City Hall is certainly the only administrative building in the world with a statue of a…
-
Witches’ Night is fun for the family
One of the first nice days of spring is an excuse to roast sausages and burn a witch. Witches’ Night sounds a bit ominous, but in Bohemia and much of Central Europe,…
-
Legends of the Loreta Carillon
A sad tale stands behind the melodious bells in the tower known as the Loreta Carillon. The beautiful pilgrimage church called the Loreta, in the Prague Castle neighborhood, has more than its…
-
The Infant of Prague doubles as a Santeria idol
An Afro-Spanish religion uses the Infant of Prague to represent one of its key figures. One statue, two religions. The Infant of Prague is of course a world-famous Roman Catholic icon, and…
-
Magic Prague Tour shows a week of wonders
People can see esoteric treasures plus meet like-minded people. Prague, and much of Bohemia, is just filled with mystical and curious places. Finding them on your own and separating the fact from…
-
Ema Destinnová, a diva who embraced divination
The singer Ema Destinnová, known for her patriotism, also dabbled in the occult and loved black. People in the Czech Republic know Ema Destinnová from her somewhat idealized portrait on the Kč…
-
Meet Kabourek, Prague’s famous beer-loving water sprite
A friendly green vodník used to be a regular in pubs near Kampa Island. There is a particular type of Bohemian supernatural being called a vodník, or water sprite. They are related…
-
The Devil’s Bible – a mysterious massive medieval manuscript
The largest existing medieval manuscript, the Devil’s Bible was written in one day, according to legend. One of the great and mysterious Gothic treasures from Bohemia unfortunately now resides in Sweden, though…
-
The Tragedy of the Turk of Ungelt: a ghost legend
A cross between the romance of Romeo and Juliet and the blind rage of Othello. Long ago, Prague’s Old Town Square was a market where foreign merchants would hawk their exotic wares.…
-
The Snow Witch of Týn forever repents her evil ways
A woman who became a snow witch repents her self-serving ways every winter A woman who became a snow witch repents her self-serving ways every winterIf you look at old paintings and…
