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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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The bitter winter night’s ghost tale of Naked Cecilie
A cold night had ghostly consequences for a civil servant and his unfaithful wife The holidays are the season of giving, but sometimes people give just a little too much. Also, not…
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Three Czech ghosts emerged from one Christmas Eve tragedy
The mistaken report of a soldier’s death led to unintentional bigamy and tragedy. Three Czech ghosts wander the streets on Christmas Eve in Prague’s Malá Strana district. They are not the ghosts…
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Malá Strana Cemetery is a spooky time capsule
A tomb in Malá Strana Cemetery for a girl who died over 150 years ago still gets candles from strangers. Like many old cities in Europe, Prague is dotted with cemeteries. They…
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The flaming turkey of Kampa is Prague’s strangest ghost
A premature holiday meal was the undoing of a miller and created Prague’s oddest spectres. Bohemian ghost stories sometimes are downright bizarre. The tale of the angry flaming turkey of Kampa stands…
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The dark meaning behind the legend of Dalibor’s violin
An imprisoned knight learned to make music, but his singing was something else as Dalibor’s violin has a dark meaning. One of the most famous legends of Prague Castle is that of…
