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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 villain. The monastery at Emauzy looks pleasant enough from a distance, with its modern concrete wings added in…
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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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Chlupáč, Prague’s evil hairy ghost with a hatred of hookers
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 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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Pieced heart: The Masonic legend of the villa called Amerika
The palace called Vila Amerika is home to a Masonic legend about a pierced heart. All of the movers and shakers in Prague used to belong to the Freemasons. The group, though,…
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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 horoscopes of Albrecht von Wallenstein
General Albrecht von Wallenstein took astrology very seriously, even delaying a battle due to the stars. One of the most significant generals of the Thirty Years’ War, Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius von Wallenstein had…
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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…
