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Woman holding a skull. Photo by Freestocks- Unsplash
10 Spooky Places to Visit in Prague
Prague is rife with ghosts and legends. Over 100 spirits and unearthly beings are said to inhabit Prague. These ghosts are entangled with the city’s heritage and culture, and they contribute to what makes Prague so spellbinding. Prague has a history dating back over 1,000 years, and dozens, if not hundreds, of ghost stories, have been collected over that time, particularly in the historical center. There are headless horsemen, murdered wives, evil nuns, enraged priests, lost soldiers, and a veritable zoo. Even though ghosts can be found throughout Prague, some areas are considered to be more enticing to them than others. So, if you’re hoping to encounter something supernatural while touring, I’ve compiled a list of the most spooky spots in the city.
Read more on; One day in Prague: What to do and what to see in 24 hours
1. Prague Crossroads
The old Church of St. Anne on Liliová Street in Old Town is currently known as Prague Crossroads and is operated by the NGO Vize 97, established by Václav Havel. However, centuries earlier it was owned by the Knights Templar, prior to the request being eliminated in the 14th century. One Templar opted to stay behind. He had been murdered, for explanations long unrecalled. On Friday at midnight, the rider, with his head under his arm, and his raging, smoke-breathing horse were a regular site, riding up and down Liliová Street until 1 a.m., when he disappeared. He was chatty, telling people that he could be set free if someone took his flaming sword and stabbed his flaming horse. Yet no one was courageous enough to accept the talking head’s challenge. The church, which was occupied by other Catholic organizations after the Templars left, was dismantled in the 18th century as part of Emperor Joseph II’s religious restores and converted into a book storage facility. Haunting a church and haunting a warehouse are two distinct things, and the ghost quickly gave up after losing his self-esteem. However, now that the facility is being employed for meetings and seminars again, there is some hope that he will return.
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address: Old Town, 110 00 Prague 1, Czechia
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2. Josefov (the Old Jewish Quarter)
Josefov is home to hundreds of ghosts. A famous story involves a dancing Jewess, who is said to be a prostitute who was beaten to death on Good Friday and now returns every year to dance men to their deaths. Another ghost is the wandering musician, who moves between the Old Jewish Cemetery and St Vitus Cathedral, where he used to play. He is linked to both areas because he was a Jewish convert who subsequently changed back to Christianity. He moves back and forth, followed by a skeleton ferryman, playing the organ. You may also see him with a black cat, which is said to be his ex-wife. The Prague Golem, on the other hand, is the most well-known ghost in Josefov. The Golem was a clay figure created by Judah Loew ben Bezalel, also known as Rabbi Loew. He was designed to safeguard the Jews of Prague from the Holy Roman Emperor, Rudolf II. The Golem is said to be living in the attic of Josefov’s Old-New Synagogue.
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address: U Staré školy, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia
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3. Faust House
Faces of the devil. Photo by Dan Sealey- Unsplash
Do you remember Doctor Faustus? Do you remember the one about the guy who makes a bargain with the devil in exchange for infinite wisdom? That guy, yes. Faust House in Prague, on the other hand, is associated with the Faust story and mystical magicians. Because the Illuminati house is not open to the public, what is hidden within remains unknown. The Prague Faust House is full of ghost stories and quirky characters. Alchemist Edward Kelley allegedly set off chemical eruptions in the house, causing holes in the roof. Karl Jaenig was an iconoclast who slept in a wooden coffin and kept a fully operational gallows in his home. Maybe the strangest and creepiest story is that an innocent student went missing while living at Faust House. Some claim he discovered a magical tome, read a spell and was abducted by the devil. The secrecy surrounding Faust House is thick!
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address: Karlovo nám. 502/40, 128 00 Nové Město, Czechia
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4. Charles Bridge
Charles Bridge is one of Prague’s most popular tourist destinations, yet it has a troubled history. In June 1621, approximately 27 anti-Habsburg leaders were executed, and approximately 12 heads were positioned on iron baskets on the bridge’s towers. These heads had been hanging there for over a decade. It is one of the city’s scariest stories and pictures of it can be found in various city sights.
Read more on; Visiting Charles Bridge in Prague: History, Facts, and Tips
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address: Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1, Czechia
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5. The Iron Knight at City Hall
People walking by the City Hall building on Mariánské námst may have realized a Darth Vader-like monument. He is the Iron Knight, a man with a short fuse. Jáchym Berka, recognized as the Iron Knight due to his black armor, worked for King John of Luxembourg. When he came back from a battle, he heard rumblings about his fiancée’s infidelity. The speculations were false and planted by his opponents. In an outburst of rage, the knight murdered his blameless fiancée, the daughter of a blacksmith whose shop was located across the street from what is currently known as the City Hall.
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address: Mariánské nám. 2, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia
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6. Old Jewish Cemetery
The Old New Synagogue, constructed from the stones of Solomon’s Temple, is a must-see tourist attraction in Prague’s Jewish Quarter (Josefov). This spooky location is home to one of Prague’s most famous stories: the Golem of Prague. According to folklore, when anti-Semitic sentiments threatened the community in 1580, the local rabbi, Judah Loew ben Bezalel, prayed for assistance. He allegedly had a vision of how to build a golem – a strong shield made of mud – to keep the residents protected. The rabbi built the golem out of mud from the neighbouring Vltava River. The rabbi finally had to deal with the golem as it grew too strong to restrict. The golem was locked in the synagogue’s loft. According to legend, when the Nazis invaded Prague, they attempted to enter the loft only to be forced back by the golem, who killed the Nazi agent attempting to enter. Fortunately, the Old New Synagogue was spared destruction during the Nazi occupation of Prague. A temple is still a place of worship for the local community. As per the folklore, the golem is still alive somewhere in the loft, waiting to be resurrected to safeguard the people yet again.
Read more on; Top 10 facts about the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague
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address: Široká 3, 110 00 Josefov, Czechia
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7. Houska Castle (the Gateway to Hell)
Skeletons outside. Photo by Kenny Eliason- Unsplash
Houska Castle, also recognized as the Gateway to Hell, is among the most haunted locations on the world. It is a solitary castle currently based in a forest in Prague’s northern outskirts. This castle has no kitchen, a water supply, business paths and even a fortification. As per the legend, the castle was constructed as a portal to hell due to the amount of paranormal and demonic activity that was taking place at the time. The Houska Castle has a nearby by abyss that was used for prisoner punishment. Just before WWII, the Houska Castle was also a meeting place for Illuminati Nazis.
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address: Houska 1, 471 62 Doksy, Czechia
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8. Prague Castle
The most prevalent and haunted sights to see in Malá Strana are Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral. The spirit of an Italian jazz musician roams the New Castle Steps, scaring visitors with his trumpet. A noblewoman who fell in love with a slave is another spirit near the castle steps. When her father found out, he was outraged and had the young man conscripted. One evening, the woman froze to death while waiting for her love. She is still expecting him to return home. Jindrich, a retired castle chef, became so enraged one day that he killed and served his dog for dinner. Jindrich’s ghost is believed to haunt the area and to be frequently attacked by dogs.
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address: Hradčany, 119 08 Prague 1, Czechia
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9.Černín Palace
Elites are notorious for being disconnected from the lower classes, with Marie Antoinette notably stating, “Let them eat cake.” A similar story can be found in Prague. There was a food crisis throughout the country, with several people going hungry and protesting on the streets for food. Regardless, the Černín family decided to throw a luxurious ball. Countess Ernnová entered the ballroom wearing bread-dancing slippers. The tone-deaf action insulted even the evil forces. A swarm of evil spirits rose from the floor and flipped the Countess around until the friction caused her to explode into flames. Then they dragged her all the way to hell. She now returns at midnight to roam the halls in search of a dance partner. However, Černín Palace, on the other hand, has long housed the Czechoslovak, and current Czech, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nobody ever stays in the ballroom at midnight because the staff all leave by 5 p.m.
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address: Loretánské nám. 5, 118 00 Praha 1-Hradčany, Czechia
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10. Sedlec Ossuary
Decapitated body. Photo by Arisa Chattasa- Unsplash
Sedlec Ossuary, also widely recognized as the Bone Church, is among the most well-known tourist attractions in the Czech Republic. However, do you know the backstory? It is said that hundreds of years ago, a monk gathered soil from the crucifixion site of Jesus Christ. In the following centuries, a church was constructed on the holy ground and became widely known. It was later converted into the bone church that we see today. The Sedlec Ossuary is decorated with over 40,000 human bones. Yes, those are all real bones! We’re not sure if it has any particular scary stories however, the combination of bone pyramids and chandelier will chill your bones! Even if you don’t see any spirits, Sedlec Ossuary is worth visiting for its eerie environment.
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address: Zámecká, 284 03 Kutná Hora, Czechia
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Take these day trips to these eerie locations in Prague once you’ve arrived.
