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The pirate ghost Red Goat seeks his lost love and treasure
A seafaring buccaneer tried to hide on land but could not escape his fate. The current mayor of Prague, since November 15, 2018, has been a member of the Czech Pirate Party.…
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Krampus, Santa’s evil friend stows bad kids in a sack
A demonic figure with pagan roots called Krampus puts bad kids in a sack. Christmas traditions vary across regions in Europe. Not entirely surprisingly, the residents of Central Europe tend to go…
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Tales and meanings of the Prague Astronomical Clock
The Astronomical Clock, a popular tourist attraction, has been restored to its pre-war condition The Astronomical Clock at Prague’s Old Town Square has been rebuilt, returning its inner clockwork to the weights…
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A French major’s ghost haunts the tunnels of Vyšehrad
The War of Succession left behind a French ghost at Vyšehrad who refuses to accept defeat. Not all soldiers leave after a war. Some are left in faraway graves, while others refuse…
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The tragedy of the House at Death
A May – December romance went horribly wrong in the House at Death in Prague’s Old Town. Prague’s street Dlouhá třída, now lined with touristy bars and expensive shops, was once where…
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Two headless horsemen haunt the route to Prague Castle
A Swedish soldier and a gambling monk both ride at night but are mostly harmless. Some parts of Prague are just overrun with ghosts. The streets leading up to Prague Castle have…
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Two ghosts who nailed it: a pair of grim Prague legends
Malá Strana has two ghosts who suffered painful deaths that involved iron nails. A pair of otherwise unrelated ghosts a few streets apart in Prague’s historical Malá Strana area have something in…
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The wild unicorn of Prague
A conjuring trick gone horribly wrong unleashed a wild unicorn on a side street in Prague. Prague legends include many mystical animals, including a unicorn. While the story is a bit vague,…
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Legends of the Bohemian Crown Jewels
The Bohemian Crown Jewels and St Wenceslas’ helmet are alleged to have magic powers. The real Bohemian Crown Jewels are only shown to the public on special occasions. The rest of the…
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Alchemy reigns at the House at the Stone Lamb
The elaborate stone portal is filled with messages of duality and transformation. On Old Town Square, there is a house with a plaque saying Albert Einstein used to stop by there. But…
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The mad barber of Karlova Street
The lure of free gold led a barber down the path to ruin. Sometimes having a decent profession isn’t enough. A barber during the time of Emperor Rudolf II was growing bored…
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Bruncvík and his magic sword
A dragon-slaying knight and his white lion now guard Charles Bridge. Not all of the statues on Charles Bridge are actually on top of the bridge. There is one off to the…
