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The unlucky black cat of the Křížalova Street inn
A murder plan during the plague had long consequences for an evil servant Prague’s menagerie of supernatural critters of course includes a black cat. The tale is one of the most gruesome,…
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Jan Mikolášek: the herbal healer showcased in the film Charlatan
A folk-medicine expert with an alleged gift treated over 5 million people, including many celebrities but critics call him a charlatan The new Czech-Irish-Polish-Slovak biopic Charlatan (Šarlatán) takes a look at the…
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Mystical gold coins gave rise to two of Prague’s synagogues
Rather fanciful tales put a colorful spin on the origins of some buildings in the Prague’s historical Jewish quarter
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Warning! Don’t try robbing a grave in Prague
The failed attempt of the Swedish army to conquer Prague at the end of the Thirty Years’ War has been back in the news, as a Baroque-style Victory Column that was toppled…
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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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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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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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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…
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Tales and meanings of the Prague Orloj – the 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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Chlupáč, the murderous hairy ghost
A half-man/half–beast who appeared as a hairy ghost terrorized brothels on former church property Not all ghosts are see-through, or covered in shrouds. One of Prague’s most dangerous spectres was a hairy…
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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 TownPrague’s street Dlouhá třída, now lined with touristy bars and expensive shops, was once where the…
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Two headless horsemen haunt Prague’s Nerudova Street
A Swedish soldier and a gambling monk both ride at night as headless horsemen but are harmless One of the darkest moments for Prague was at the end of the Thirty Years’…
