Prague landmark: Golden street

Golden street (Zlatá ulička) – tiny, but extremely picturesque street, located near the walls of Prague Castle. The first houses appeared here in the XV century. Assume that artisans and jewelers lived here, which is why the street and got its name. Some legends explain the origin of the street name quite otherwise: they say that the whole thing in the alchemists who lived here, trying to find the philosopher’s stone and make gold. According to one of the legends, a particularly diligent old man who spent his entire state for the translation of books about magic, managed to create gold from nothing. At least when he was found dead at home after a terrible explosion of the laboratory, he had a golden pebble in his hand.

In 1591, by order of Rudolph II, on the site of the old houses affected by the fire, decided to build new. They were intended for closure arrow. Due to the lack of space, the arrows had to embed miniature houses in the arch of the fortress wall. In the middle of the XVIII century, the arrows disbanded and evicted together with families. In the late XIX – early XX century, the painting of this place, as well as the low prices for accommodation in puppet houses, the artists and writers rated.

The oldest building of the golden street is house number 20. In the house number 22 from 1916 to 1917, Writer Franz Kafka lived together with his sister: he wrote several stories here. It is also believed that it was Prague Castle who inspired Kafki to write a novel "Lock". In the house number 14 since 1918, famous in the city of the propheted Madame de Phi. As the legend says, at the end of the Second World War, she predicted an ambulance with Hitler’s death, for which Gestapo was killed. After the end of the war, the houses were nationalized and restored, and now the rooms occupy souvenir shops and museums.

Houses on the golden street look like puppet houses

Working hours: From November to March 9: 00-16: 00, from April to October 9: 00-17: 00.

Ticket price
Golden street is located on the territory of Prague Castle. Entrance to the castle area is free, but you can visit the street and small exposures presented in homes, you can only on a comprehensive ticket that includes inspection of many more sights.

Complex tickets:
350 KRON – Long route (Saint Vita Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, Permanent Exposition "History of Prague Castle", Basilica of St. George, Zlata-Ulock and Tower Dalyborok, Prague Gallery, Powder Tower, Rosenberg Palace).
250 kroons – Short route (Saint Vita Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, Zlata-Ownkeeper and Dalibork Tower).
After closing the expositions on the golden street, you can walk completely free: the passage to the castle area is open until 24:00 in the summer and until 23:00 in the winter.