Golden Lane

One of the iconic spots of Prague Castle was created at the end of the 15th century, after the construction of the new northern fortifications. The picturesque lane of colourful little houses is rich in legends, which also attracted many writers and artists. Among others, the famous Franz Kafka lived here. Today, several of the houses hold an exhibition that presents life in Golden Lane during its 500-year existence.

The new castle fortifications gave rise to modest dwellings, which are today the last remnant of the small-scale development of Prague Castle. Crossbowmen, servants, and goldsmiths lived here, for example. The houses were inhabited until the Second World War; already during the First Republic, however, care was taken that the lane did not lose its picturesque character during renovations. The last residents moved out in 1953.

The form of 16th-century dwellings is best shown by house no. 13, the Renaissance home of a castle crossbowman. In the neighbouring house no. 14 there is a model of a dwelling from the period before the Second World War, when the renowned fortune-teller and clairvoyant Matylda Průšová lived here. In house no. 22, during the First World War, writer Franz Kafka lived and worked. In house no. 12, film historian and collector Josef Kazda hid copies of Czechoslovak films that the Nazis had intended to destroy. The exhibition therefore symbolically includes a projection screen, and visitors can watch films depicting Prague Castle at the dawn of cinema. The staircase in this house leads to the terrace in front of Daliborka. This cylindrical cannon tower was part of the Jagiellonian fortifications, and its lower floor has served as a prison since the beginning. The first and most famous prisoner was, in 1498, the knight Dalibor z Kozojed.

The present appearance of Golden Lane was strongly influenced by the celebrated artist Jiří Trnka. The house facades were painted in colour according to his design from the 1950s.