Zlatá ulička Street

Welcome to one of the most charming and most visited corners of Prague Castle. You're standing just outside the Golden Lane entrance. Before you enter, stop for a moment and look ahead. See those tiny, colorful houses clapping together in a narrow space? It looks like it's cut out of a fairy tale book, doesn't it? These fine pastel colours in combination with small dimensions create an unrepeatable atmosphere that will immediately transfer you from the noisy contemporary world to a time when the castle walls were hiding much more secrets. Feel the sense of peace and intimacy that radiates this place, even though you know it is surrounded by monumental buildings of the castle.

Now let's look together at how this fascinating place actually came into being and why it looks just like this. We have to go back deep in history, specifically to the end of the 16th century. In the year of a thousand five hundred ninety-seven Emperor Rudolf the second, a man full of interest in science, art and occult science, made a decision that changed the face of the northern fortification of the castle. He allowed the castle shooters to set up their homes in the walls. Imagine it from the perspective of a soldier back then. Instead of having to travel behind their home away from the walls, they could now live right at their service. But these conditions were very poor. Originally, it was just small chambers in the arches of the wall, which served as shelter rather than as real homes. They were people who were supposed to guard the castle, but they lived in a space that was basically part of the defense system.

Now, as you slowly move forward, pay attention to the architecture of these buildings. Look up at the roof. Notice how low they are and how close they are to each other. It's a fascinating testimony about how people tried to expose every inch of space available. Look at the windows. They are small, almost modest, and they have only allowed a minimum of daylight into the interior. And now look at the amount of chimneys that stand out from the colored roofs. Each of them tells the story of warmth and survival in the cold Prague winters in these small spaces.

Try to notice the width of the aisle now. Notice how the space has narrowed down considerably. In some sections, the aisle is less than one metre wide. Why is that? It's because houses have been growing over the centuries. The people added different extensions to gain even a little more space for their lives. That made the alley as tight as you see it today. It is almost tangible evidence of human efforts to improve their conditions within a very limited space.

But this alley has not always looked so clean and orderly. If you were standing here in the middle of the nineteenth century, you would see much more chaos. In the year one thousand eight hundred sixty-four there was a so-called rendering. This means that all the non-original ports and pens that made the aisle unnecessarily difficult have been removed. The goal was to preserve only those houses that were directly related to the wall. Later, in the year one thousand nine hundred fifty-five, the alley went through another major modification. The entire process was led by a respected architect Pavel Janák. It is his vision and work that Zlatá ulička today is so aesthetically balanced. Janák was able to combine historical truthfulness with the needs of a modern visitor so that the aisle would not lose its spirit, but also be accessible and pleasant.

When you walk between these houses, remember the people who left their trail. Apart from the shooters, there were people from different worlds. One of the important personalities was Jiří Trnka, a famous puppet maker and animated films. For him Zlatá ulička was a place of peace and inspiration where he could create his unique works away from the hustle and bustle of the great city. It is fascinating to think that in these small spaces, which once served as a place for poor soldiers, high art flourished.

And now we're getting to the part that might interest you the most. Let's discuss one of the great mysteries of this place. Why is this alley called Golden? There are several theories and each one has its own magic. Some argue that the name relates to the fact that in later times there were goldsmiths who had their workshops here. But much more mysterious and tempting is the connection with the alchemists. As I mentioned before, Emperor Rudolf the Second was fascinated by secrets. He believed in the ability to turn ordinary metals into precious gold and sought a way to achieve immortality. Imagine these little houses full of mysterious drugs, boilers in which bubbles of unknown substances, and parchment-filled ciphers. Maybe from this dream of gold and from the secret attempts of alchemists the alley got its name. It's a place where the boundaries between reality and magic have been blurred over the centuries.

At present, Zlatá ulička no longer serves as military accommodation or as a secret laboratory. Today is a place for all of us. The houses now host original shops and galleries where you can buy unique souvenirs or admire art works. Although the entrance to the aisle has been charged since two thousand and two, it still retains its intimacy and sense of separation from the outside world.

Now I beg you to continue at your own pace. Let yourself be guided by the scent of old wood and the colour of facades. Stop by the individual houses, look inside, and try to imagine what kind of conversations we had here hundreds of years ago. Who was standing here looking out at Prague? What did the shooters dream of watching the walls at night? And what might have remained hidden in the corners of these little rooms?

Feel the atmosphere of this unique place where history is bound to a fairy tale and where every stone tells its own story. Zlatá ulička is a reminder that even in the smallest and most destitute areas something beautiful and permanent can be created.

I wish you a pleasant walk, many discoveries and beautiful experiences in the heart of Prague Castle. Look forward to everything you see in other parts of this historical complex. Goodbye.