The Orloj. 🕰️
The oldest astronomical clock still operating in the world (installed in 1410). It shows Babylonian time, Old Bohemian time, and sidereal time.
The Show
Every hour on the hour (9am-11pm), the skeleton of Death rings a bell and turns his hourglass. The 12 Apostles parade past two small windows. It lasts 45 seconds.
The Legend
Legend says the city councillors blinded the clockmaker, Hanuš, so he could never build another one like it. In revenge, he broke the gears and died.
The Golem. 🧱
This district survived WWII because Hitler wanted to preserve it as a "Museum of an Extinct Race." It is one of the most significant Jewish sites in Europe.
Old Jewish Cemetery
Because space was limited, graves were layered on top of each other. In some places, the dead are stacked 12 deep. The tombstones tumble over each other like dominoes.
Old-New Synagogue
Europe's oldest active synagogue. Legend says the Golem—a clay monster created by Rabbi Loew to protect the ghetto—lies deactivated in the attic.
The Clock
Look at the clock on the Jewish Town Hall. It has Hebrew numbers and the hands run counter-clockwise (backwards), just like Hebrew script.
Metamorphosis
The Trial
Franz Kafka. ✒️
Prague's most famous son was a man terrified of his own city. His surreal, bureaucratic nightmares were inspired by these very streets.
The Rotating Head:
Behind the Quadrio shopping center is a massive, shiny metal head of Kafka by artist David Černý. It rotates in layers, constantly disassembling and reassembling his face.
The Green Fairy. 🧚
It was never banned in the Czech Republic. Today, "Absintheries" are everywhere. It is not a hallucination; it is a ritual.
The Fire Ritual
The "Bohemian Method." A sugar cube is soaked in absinthe, set on fire on a special spoon, and then dropped into the green liquid. It caramelizes the drink.
Where to Go
Avoid the neon-green tourist shops. Go to the "Absintherie" near Franz Kafka Square. They treat it like fine wine, serving over 100 varieties.