You can wander around fabulously beautiful Prague for hours, and this is not surprising. Indeed, in Europe, a rare city can boast of such an amazing abundance of attractions, legends and stories similar to a fairy tale. Any courtyard, street or house can have its own pedigree, which began back centuries and came to us almost unchanged.
Mystical stories of Prague
Arriving to stay for a short while, you can visit the Charles Bridge, make your secret wish, which will come true, go to Zlata Street in Prague, the address of which needs to be clarified in advance if you decide to explore the city yourself. And the oldest, but still working Astronomical clocks? They are unusually beautiful and practical, and they say that if they stop, then the Czech state can expect disasters. Therefore, experienced watchmakers carefully monitor the progress of the eagle, as the Prague chimes are also called .
First meeting
Prague is generally distinguished by the accumulation of interesting places that the Czechs are proud of. Even leisurely injuries set in a calm mood and plunge their passengers into the romantic atmosphere of the city. Nevertheless, it is better to start acquaintance with this beautiful village from a small alley of the Prague Castle, where different epochs meet and the interest in which has not been lost for many centuries. This is Zlata street in Prague, a place that has broken attendance records and is, in fact, a symbol of Prague Castle.
There are many legends about it, as well as about the Astronomical clock. These fascinating stories attract tourists to her from many parts of the world. It is so surprisingly small that only one tree could grow on this street. However, this did not stop her from becoming a local celebrity along with the Museum of Knight's Armor.
History of Zlata Streets
It is difficult to call this place a full-fledged street, rather, a small blind lane, built by King Rudolph II to protect the city along the northern defensive border of Prague Castle. This street is not on the usual map of the city, but this unusual place can be found on the plan of the fortress. The houses on this street are surprisingly small, because they are built into the arches of the defensive rampart. Moreover, they are equipped and the second floor.
Having crossed the threshold of the forged gate, the viewer finds himself in the Middle Ages. Tiny houses, kitchen and household utensils, even knightly armor can tell the life story of the inhabitants of this glorious historical place. The street begins its history back in the 16th century, at that time the main inhabitants were the guards. They defended the northern part of Prague Castle. Time passed, the epochs changed, and the people who became permanent residents of the fortress changed with it. In the tower of Dalibork and the White Tower, prisoner nobles appeared. The gallery of the defensive rampart was completed with houses for the guards and their families, who also carried the function of security guards. Noblemen lived, oddly enough, in custody at their own expense, and the poor guards benefited from this maximum benefit and benefit.
Gold, Elixir of Immortality and the Sorcerer's Stone
So why does this street have such a bright, attractive name? Rumor has it that at the beginning of the 16th century, under the patronage of that same King Rudolph II, alchemists lived here, who knew how to make gold from sulfur, salt and mercury. In those days, many kings and noble nobles hoped to replenish their treasury in this way. The alchemists of that time were faced with serious, but at the same time difficult tasks. This, of course, is the search for the elixir of immortality, the philosopher's stone and gold, a lot of gold.
Not everyone coped with the task, and quack alchemists persecuted by deceived nobles gathered in Prague Castle in search of a safe haven. King Rudolph welcomed everyone and settled in one place. And the modern administration of Zlata streets in Prague even made a wax installation of a mustached alchemist in order to maintain the curiosity of tourists.
Residents of an unusual street
To find out the details of the life of residents, you can go into the houses, part of the interiors is under glass, but through it you can clearly see antiques. Each of them brought an interesting story to the life of this small street. Indeed, it’s not without reason that so many tourists visit Zlatou Lane in Prague and not for free.
They began to take the bribe for entry back in past centuries, when Mrs. Magdalena offered to paint the houses in different colors and the small street turned into a Prague miracle. Check how much the entrance to Zlata street in Prague costs, if you decide to visit it. A visit to this attraction is included in the complex ticket and is part of a small and large excursion circle. Their price is CZK 250 and 350, respectively, which in rubles is 623 and 873.
The days of the alchemists passed, and they were replaced by artisans-jewelers. In one of the houses, judging by the presence of a safe and a fire cabinet, there was a jewelry workshop. Here, not only worked, but also the master of jewelry and his family lived. The interior decoration of the rooms has not changed much even in the details, all objects are in place, as if the jeweler had just left.
And nearby there is a house in which the craftswoman needlewoman received, she sewed dresses for her regular customers. If you go a little more, you can see the house of the healer-herbalist. There still smells of tinctures and tinctures, which he apparently prescribed to his visitors. Times have changed, along with them came the unprecedented flowering of the craft, and terrific poverty. Nevertheless, this place has always attracted people by its name or history.
Zlata street in Prague: how to get there
To get to this place, you need to go on line A metro to the station Malostranska. Already from it, take tram number 22 to the stop Prazsky Hrad, from which you can easily reach the right place. You can also get to Pohorelec, from where you can stroll through Hradcany to get to the goal.
Famous tenants
At the beginning of the last century, eminent residents began to appear on the street. Franz Kafka lived in the house number 22, his almanac of short stories "Village Doctor" appeared here. Composer Yaroslav Ezhek, writer Jan Marzhenek and many others chose this place for work and leisure. And at the very beginning of the 19th century, a mysterious man, an Austrian scientist, appeared here, he attracted the attention of local residents by starting to buy books on alchemy. But once in his laboratory there was an explosion, he was found burnt, with a piece of gold in his hand. It is possible that it was ordinary gold for experiments, but the locals found the legend about the philosopher's stone found much more interesting.
Many consider Prague a mystical city, there are many mysterious places, and Zlata street is no exception. And local residents often tell a story about an unusual house that appears only once, and only a person with a clean heart and mature soul can enter it. You can see this house on a foggy night at the last lantern. Do not believe? This is easy to verify. You need to come to Prague Castle, and how to get to Zlata Street in Prague, you can ask any local resident. Friendly Czechs are fluent not only in their native language, but also in English, and the older generation speaks quite well in Russian. In any case, they will help you find the right place on the map.
Souvenirs and gifts
Currently, souvenir shops and shops are open here. By the way, after 18:00 the entrance can be free, but you can’t buy a souvenir. Shops do not work at this time. And walking around them is no less interesting than along the street itself. They sell famous natural cosmetics made with brewer's yeast. There is also a beer tavern, it is worth a glimpse at least because of the fancy dishes and the corresponding atmosphere. In the house where Franz Kafka lived , now you can buy books and city maps. In one of the houses you can see photos of celebrities who were once sheltered by the famous street. Magnets and puppets for every taste are also sold here. But the history and legends of Zlata streets in Prague, of course, are most interesting.