The Golden Lane

Stopping by the legendary Golden Lane is a rite of passage for any tourist in Prague. However, to walk through it, you’ll need to head to Zlatá ulička street a little further along and buy either an individual or group pass that includes a visit to the castle. This is a charming alley of tiny colourful houses, reminiscent of dollhouses. But their past owners were far from dolls. These small houses lining the walls of Prague Castle have had a variety of inhabitants. When they were first built in the late 16th century, they served as housing for the castle guards and later for the king’s archers. After many modifications and extensions, a new wave of residents arrived: a community of goldsmiths. Looking to avoid the heavy taxes imposed in the surrounding towns, they settled here instead. Golden Lane is named so because of them! In the 20th century, numbers 12 and 22 stood out from the rest. They became home to some of the most prominent Czech figures of the time, including the famous writers Franz Kafka and Jaroslav Seifert, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1984. By the end of World War II, Golden Lane had become completely abandoned. Lacking any inhabitants, it had to reinvent itself. And it did so with great success. Today, this must-see spot is brought to life by puppet shops and other stores selling traditional Czech crafts.