Prague: a land of myths and legends
Prague is a city that has been revered for its beauty and history since the Middle Ages. Its extraordinary architecture and cultural heritage are only some of its many attractions, but there are also plenty of legends to be found in this magical city. From the origins of the city in the Vyšehrad Castle to contemporary urban legends about its inhabitants: discover six famous stories about Prague’s legendary past with Prague Eventery only!
Myths and legends of Prague
Prague is a city of legends, myths, and mysteries. The capital of the Czech Republic has been home to many interesting stories throughout its history. Many people believe that Prague is a land of magic and mystery where mythological creatures can be spotted at any time of day or night.
The tales surrounding this ancient city are both incredible and fascinating; they range from silly ones like “the legend of St Mary’s Mirror” (which supposedly shows you your future) to more serious ones such as tales about vampires living in an abandoned castle near Karlovy Vary or a tale about an old woman who lives on her own island off south-west Bohemia called Lazy Island which was once occupied by monks but now houses only animals!
From the origins of the city in the Vyšehrad Castle to its contemporary urban legends, discover six famous stories of the magical city with Prague Eventery.
Prague is a historic city where reality and dreams mingle together. It’s one of the most magical places in Europe, where history and imagination have crafted an impressive canvas for legends.
The tapestry of each tale woven into its surroundings, Prague is a historic city where reality and dream mingle together. It’s one of the most magical places in Europe, where history and imagination have crafted an impressive canvas for legends.
Prague is a historic city where reality and dreams mingle together. It’s one of the most magical places in Europe, where history and imagination have crafted an impressive canvas for legends.
The capital of the Czech Republic has been home to many famous figures over the course of its long history: from saints to kings to poets and artists—all of who have left their mark on this ancient city. But perhaps none more so than Charles Bridge, which was built by King Charles IV back in 1357 as part of his grand plan for revitalizing Prague after its devastating fires (see our previous article). It was meant as an extravagant symbol that would unite all members of society under one banner; however, while many people loved it during its construction phase (and still do today), others saw it as nothing more than “an eyesore.”
1. The grim legend of Charles Bridge
Prague Eventery recommends The Charles Bridge as it is the oldest bridge in Prague and was named after Charles IV, who commissioned its construction. It was built between 1357 and 1402 by the same Italian architect who designed St. Vitus Cathedral. The bridge is lined with statues of saints and figures from Czech history; there are also two fountains on either side of it that were added later to provide water for tourists as they crossed over it.
The legend goes that if you step on one of these stones at night, your shadow will be reflected back at you!
2. Discovering Prague from Strahov Monastery’s terrace…
The Baroque monastery of Strahov is located on the river Ohře, in Prague’s historical center. It was founded by Benedictine monks in 1150, who were fleeing from German Prussia and later settled there, having destroyed their monastery at Poreč (in Croatia) during their flight.
The most important cultural monument in the Czech Republic today, it has served as a university since 1777, and its library houses over 1 million volumes. The building itself is considered one of Europe’s finest examples of Gothic architecture; it features Renaissance elements such as stuccowork decorations and sculptures made by Jan Blažek or Jan Brožík
In addition to its religious functions as a cathedral church for Roman Catholics living nearby or visiting tourists during religious holidays like Christmas Eve mass held every year on December 24th at 7 pm sharp!
3. The mystery behind Wenceslas Square…
Wenceslas Square is a popular meeting place in Prague. It was named after St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia and one of the most important rulers of that country. The square itself is home to many important buildings and monuments, including the National Library (KNI), National Museum (Národní Muzeum), Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice), and House of the Black Madonna (Chodské dvorečko).
The area around Wenceslas Square used to be a marketplace but now it serves as an entertainment spot for tourists visiting this part of town on their way out from or into town via metro station Hlavní nádraží or Florenc and Josefov stations on trams No 1 or 3 respectively; trams No 4-6 run along Mánesova street leading directly into it while tram No 7 runs parallel across Malostranské náměstí towards Vyšehrad which is located southwest at another endpoint before heading back north again towards Mala Strana along Kampa Island where you’ll find yourself disembarking at Libeňský Rynek (“Lipensky Market”) if coming from nearby streets such as Staroměstská Street then continue walking straight ahead following signs pointing toward Karlův most (“Charles Bridge”), Stare Miasto (“Old Town”), Hradčanský palác (“Palace Castle”), Karlovo Náměstí (“Charles Square”) etcetera until reaching Wenceslas Square itself!
4. Explore Prague’s hidden secrets on a ghost tour!
If you’re looking for an educational, fun, and entertaining way to learn about Prague’s history, then a ghost tour is just what you need. There are several different types of tours available with Prague Eventery including-
- Historical Ghost Tours
- Nature & History Ghost Tours (if the weather is nice)
- Artistic & Cultural Ghost Tours (if the weather isn’t nice enough for nature or historical tours)
5. A walk in Prague among tributes to Franz Kafka…
- Kafka’s House:
The house where Kafka was born is now a museum, but you can still visit it and see what it looks like today. It’s located in the Jewish quarter of Prague Castle and was used by Franz Kafka as his home from 1909 to 1914. There are many items on display in this house that was owned by Franz Kafka, including some original manuscripts from his novels like The Trial and The Castle. In 1983, a plaque was added to honor his memory at this location.*
- Kafka’s Grave:
It may be hard for you to imagine someone being buried outside of their family home or churchyard because they were executed during World War II (as were many other Jews), but when Franz Kafka died in 1924 he was buried at the cemetery next door – so technically speaking there wasn’t any place else available! However, since then several graves have been moved over here due mainly due to reasons such as overcrowding on top-level crypts which meant space could be made available elsewhere…and also because these areas weren’t being used anymore anyway so why not move them somewhere else?
6. Kafka’s spirit lives on… at the café on Celetna Street!
Kafka loved to sit on the terrace of this café. He did so every day, even when it was raining or snowing. The terrace is located at Celetna Street, which has been renamed Franz Kafka Street, and houses a statue of the writer who used to go there with his friends and family.
Kafka would often sit at one of the tables outside, if not inside the café itself, and read from his books while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea from nearby cafés like Café Slavia and Café Royal (which are now open again following renovations).
Let your imagination wander through Prague’s fantastic sites and atmospheric streets!
Prague is a city of mystery, magic, and legends. It’s a city where history was made, stories were born and myths were born. If you want to feel like you are walking in the footsteps of kings or queens; if you want to discover hidden treasures; if you want to escape reality for just a moment – then I can guarantee that Prague will provide all these things for your enjoyment!
Prague has been home to many famous people throughout its history including Shakespeare (who lived here) as well as many other famous writers such as Kafka who wrote “The Metamorphosis” about an insect who becomes human overnight after eating his boss’s lunch.
Conclusion
Prague is a city that has been shaped by myths and legends. From its origins in the Vyšehrad Castle to its modern-day urban legends, Prague is one of Europe’s most magical places. Nowhere else can you experience legends as you do here in this historic city, where reality and dream mingle together.
Prague Eventery is the DMC that organizes events, meetings, and conferences held in historical places in Prague to help you develop your business and strengthen relationships. The origin of this agency is that we wanted to find a way to preserve the legacy of historic buildings, monuments, and places of our beautiful city. We want them to be not only a source of income for the owners but also part of cultural heritage that we can tell future generations about the history. We, as a destination management company want to invite all the people of Prague and visitors to experience this kind of atmosphere full of history from past centuries. And we are still here for our mission: care about Prague as a city filled with historical places and inspiration, with thousands of years of past events that still can inspire us today.