dům U Tří tykví House

Welcome to Michael Street in the heart of Prague's Old Town. You're standing in front of the house of the Three Pumpkin. If you look at him now, you might be interested in his appearance, which perfectly fits into the surrounding historical structure. It's a building that has layers of many centuries in it, although what you see before you is the result of an elaborate plan from the beginning of the twentieth century. Stop for a moment, take a breath and feel the atmosphere of this narrow alley space where history meets modern reconstruction.

Now let's look deeper into the past to understand what really happened here. The first reports of the existence of a house in this place date back to the year three hundred and sixty. So imagine what path this place has gone down since the Middle Ages of Prague until today. Already in the year thousands four hundred twenty-four was the house known as Ad cucumeres, which in translation means U Tyqui. This name is very typical of old Prague, where houses were not called numbers, but according to the characteristics, images or owners. The pumpkins were the favourite symbol at the time, and they became the calling card for this house, which later became the name of the Three Pumpkins.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and the facade of the building. If you look closely at the building, you might wonder why it looks so unified and in good condition. The answer is that the current construction from the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-five is actually a new construction. The original house was demolished in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-two. However, the builders did not want to erase the memory of the past. The facade you're seeing right now has been designed to faithfully imitate the original historical house. So it's an architectural letter of love to old times. Look up at the facade details. There you will notice the rococo sculpture of the Holy One, which gives home appearance a sense of elegance and spirituality. It's one of those elements that build its unique character and remind us how the city houses were decorated in the past.

When you're standing in front of a house like this, it's good to realize that the walls of this house have witnessed the lives of many prominent personalities. The most famous of them was without doubt the poet Karel Jaromír Erben. He lived in this very house, and here he ended his earthly life. Imagine Erben making up his unforgettable poetry in these premises, and seeing the rhythm of the city, which from Michal Street shrunk into the rooms of the house. The figure of Josephine Brdlíková is associated with this place. These people are connected by this address, which has thus become a home for the art and intellectual society of its time. It's fascinating to think that even though the building is newer today, the spirit of these people is still there.

Now, I want to take you to an interesting place that borders on secrets. As I mentioned earlier, the original house was demolished in a thousand and nine hundred and thirty-two. That's when something unexpected happened. Gothic fragments and parts of old walls appeared under the clouds of time during the crash. What is even more interesting, however, were found paintings from the wall that came from the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. These findings show that the house was much more than just an ordinary building, it was a layered archive of Prague's history. The house is also known under several other names such as U Five Pumpkin, U Pumpkin or even U Elena. This variability of names reflects how the perception of the house changed over the centuries to its inhabitants and neighbors.

Today dům U Tří tykví is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, which ensures that future generations can admire this harmonious combination of modern design and historical appearance. It is a reminder that history may not only be about preserving old stones, but also about the ability to reconstruct them faithfully and keep them in mind.

Thank you for stopping by this house on Michael Street. I hope you're interested in the story of the poet Erben, the mysterious Gothic paintings and the pumpkin name. Now you will continue to explore the narrow streets of Old Town, where there is another story waiting around every corner. We wish you a pleasant walk and a beautiful day in Prague.