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A mermaid found love at a long-vanished Prague pond
A village once stood outside the Old Town walls, and a pond there was home to a sad but beautiful mermaid The Czech word for a little pond is Rybníček, and in…
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Ruprecht the headless ghost of a trumpeter haunts the Senate
One of Prague’s finest palaces is home to a headless ghost who missed an important command Some people like to sleep in late, especially after a night of partying. And isn’t it…
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A practical guide to Moravian vampires
In the early 1700s, the Czech Republic was the center of activity for suspected vampires and the undead There was a “vampire panic” across much of Central and Eastern Europe in the…
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Native American and African ghosts haunt far from home
Two of Prague’s sadder ghost legends tell of people who died while on tour with traveling shows Prague has two resident ghosts – a Native American and an African – who died…
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The obese ghost of a gluttonous merchant haunts the Wallenstein Pub
A beggar had the last word when the entrepreneur wouldn’t share his leftovers Back when times were tough, obesity used to be quite rare, and an obese ghost even more so. Only…
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Ghostly goats of the Golden City
Among the more curious supernatural apparitions in Prague are some stubborn ghostly goatsPrague at night is a virtual menagerie of spectral animals. There are the mundane yet otherworldly dogs and cats, and…
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Prague’s cemetery row is a sculpture garden of history
The city’s gardens of stone offer a retreat from the overly touristed center Visitors to Prague can be quickly overwhelmed by how crowded the main tourist attractions are. But the city’s cemetery…
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Whipping away infertility at Easter with a pomlázka
A traditional practice involves braided willow branches called a pomlázka and plum brandyEaster in Europe has always been tied up with spring rituals related to fertility and birth. Bunnies are among the…
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Two monastery ghosts haunt the grounds of Emauzy
Long-dead monks wander the grounds of Emauzy, one a hero and the other a villainThe monastery at Emauzy looks pleasant enough from a distance, with its modern concrete wings added in the…
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Ghost riders at náměstí Republiky
Three ghost riders haunt the same area near the start of the Royal RouteThe area around the square called náměstí Republiky marks the start of the old Royal Route that leads all…
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Red Goat, the pirate ghost of Prague
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, the evil friend of Santa
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…
