Legends of Prague: history, sights of the city, interesting facts

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The royal city of Prague is shrouded in many secrets, legends and myths. Here, in every narrow street, tavern and church, you can hear a unique ghost story. It is believed that any legend is a real case, but greatly embellished by the next narrator. Enterprising Praguers even counted the objects in the city where you can meet ghosts, and there were 2 thousand such places.

Tyn Church

This is a real symbol of the city - two pointed towers rising above the roofs of houses. This temple is ancient, it is already more than seven centuries old. The construction of the church lasted about two centuries, so the architectural styles are mixed in the building, because each ruler tried to bring something of his own to the building.

There is an interesting Prague legend associated with the Tyn Church. In the old days, a very greedy and evil lady lived near the church. She simply harassed her maids. One of the girls serving the lady was very pious, and as soon as she heard the bell of the temple, she immediately folded her hands and prayed. Once again, when the mistress found her servant praying, she drove her toof death. After that, the conscience of the evil woman woke up, and she became a nun, and bequeathed her we alth to poor people, and gave part of it to build a bell for the Tyn Church. Now the ghost of the mistress walks at night and shakes the tongue of the bell, for which she herself gave money.

Church of St. Jacob

In the old part of the city (between Republic Square and Old Town Square) there is a baroque church, very richly inlaid. This is the second most important shrine in the city after St. Vitus Cathedral and the oldest Gothic building in the city.

This is where the count of Mitrovice Chancellor Vratislav rested. In addition to the fact that the most beautiful sarcophagus is installed at the grave, there is a terrible legend of Prague around the burial. According to the myth, after the burial of Vratislav, rustling and terrifying sounds were heard from the crypt for a long time. At some point, it was decided to hide the sarcophagus and there they found the chancellor in a sitting position. Most likely, he was buried at the moment when he was in a lethargic dream.

Another Prague legend associated with the cathedral, or rather with a withered human brush, which is located on the right side at the entrance. According to the story, this is the hand of a thief who tried to rob the church, but was captured and could not free himself without help, so he had to cut off his hand.

Another legend says that the artist painting the main altar, during the period when the plague was in the city, did not get sick until he finished the work. As soon as the painting of the altar was completed, he immediately fell ill and in speeddied.

Royal Way

It is unlikely that any of the tourists passed Tseletnaya Street. After all, this is a real royal path from the Powder Gate to the Old Town Square. There are many attractions along this street. This is the house "At the Golden Angel", a house in the style of cubism called "At the Black Mother of God", the old mint.

There is an old Prague legend associated with this street. In the old days, a woman of easy virtue, walking along Celetnaya Street, decided to seduce the chaplain by exposing her breasts. In indignation, he hit her on the head with a cross, and to death. Disappointed by what he had done, the chaplain immediately died. It is believed that this is how they wander this street together to this day.

Velkoprzevorska mill on Kampa island

This attraction is located near the Charles Bridge on the Chertovka River. The island has not very grandiose houses and a charming windmill, which is associated with several legends of Prague.

According to one of the legends, the mill used to belong to a miller with an unbearable character. She constantly entered into quarrels with neighbors, tormented workers and her husband. In light of this, the nickname Devil stuck to the woman. The woman was so proud of this that she even called the artist to depict seven devils at the mill. They say that after the death of the miller's wife, the river calmed down, but the Devil's still remained.

According to another version, the miller had a beautiful daughter who was ready to give everything to meet the prince. And at some point, a person in a dark robe appeared, whofulfilled all the wishes of the girl, including receiving an invitation to the ball. However, after the ball, the girl was never seen again.

House "At the Golden Ring"

If it were not for the legends and history of Prague, then few people would know about this house. It is located on Tynskaya street.

According to legend, merchants from other countries used to stay in this house. At some point, a careless ghost loses the ring, which is found by a local resident. True, it is not clear how he knew that this was a ghost ring. History is silent on this. However, later the ring was recognized as a symbol of protection from evil spirits and hung on the building above the entrance. Now they definitely warn that it’s better not to walk here at night, as you can meet a ghost who is looking for his ring.

Museum of Ghosts and Legends in Prague

To get the most out of your adrenaline, it's best to head to the museum dedicated to the city's ghosts and legends. It is located near Charles Bridge and is divided into two parts.

On the ground floor there is a book that is protected by the spirit of the whole city. Many legends and myths will be told here. In the basement, vacationers find themselves on the street of the Old City, where you can meet the Golem, gnomes and ghosts.

Most of all emotions can be obtained on a night tour, when all the exhibits look much more intriguing and frightening.

White Lady

In mystical storiesyou can believe it or not, but there are so many ancient castles in the city that you can definitely meet a ghost in one of them. The most popular legend of Prague and the country is about the White Lady. This lady was born back in 1429 and was named Perkhta at birth. At the age of 20, the girl's father forcibly gives her in marriage. The husband turned out to be a real monster, and Perhta decided to return home. However, her father did not even let her on the threshold, and the woman had to return to her husband. She lived in marriage for 20 years, when suddenly her husband repented and began to ask for forgiveness from his wife, but she was inexorable. Then the husband shouted: “So that you do not find peace even in the coffin!” Three years after her husband's death, Perkhta also died. And after that, periodically the ghost of the White Lady appears in all five castles belonging to the Rožmberk family.

Many legends and ghosts of Prague teach a person not to lose hope. Like, for example, the story of the silverfish. According to legend, when the rich Myslik fled from Prague, he melted all his silver coins into a fish and hid them in one of the walls of his house. After some time, a new owner appeared in the house, but the local authorities obliged him to build a new house instead of the dilapidated one. This man had no money and was very upset when he was about to leave his property, he found a silver fish, which was enough to build a new house.