The House of the Black Madonna is a sharp-angled, geometric structure located at the junction of Celetná Street and Ovocný trh in Prague's Old Town. Completed in nineteen twelve by architect Josef Gočár, the building features a bold,…
Old Town House Symbols
Decode the visual language of medieval Prague before house numbers existed, when citizens navigated by the pictures on their doors. This walk through the oldest alleys reveals the stories behind stone lambs, golden keys, and blue horses, leaving you with a sharp eye for the city's street-level history.
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1. House of the Black Madonna
2. Prague Museum – House at the Golden Ring
You can identify the House at the Golden Ring by the golden ring emblem mounted on its facade above the main entrance. This building in the Old Town stands near the Church of Our Lady before Týn and serves as a site for the Museum of the…
3. Stone Bell House
The Stone Bell House on Old Town Square is defined by a stone bell carved directly into the corner of its masonry, situated between the first and second floors. This building, which dates back to the second half of the thirteenth century,…
4. The House at the Stone Virgin Mary (Storch's House)
The House at the Stone Virgin Mary stands out on the Old Town Square for its striking, colorful murals and a distinctive, protruding Gothic bay window. Before house numbers were common in Prague, this building was identified by the relief…
5. House at the Two Golden Bears
The House at the Two Golden Bears is identifiable by the two sculpted bears mounted on its ornate Renaissance portal at the corner of Melantrichova and Kožná streets. This building dates back to fourteen oh three, when it originated from…
6. The House at the Minute
The House at the Minute is distinguished by the intricate black-and-white sgraffito covering its entire exterior, displaying scenes from mythology, biblical tales, and portraits of Habsburg rulers like Rudolf the second. Originally built…
7. Dům u Zlaté studny
The House at the Golden Well, or Dům u Zlaté studny, stands on the corner of Karlova and Seminářská streets. You can identify it by the elaborate stucco relief figures decorating its narrow, baroque facade. These statues, created in…
8. Beer Restaurant U Zlatého Hada
The building known as U Zlatého Hada, or At the Golden Snake, is distinguished by the physical sign of a golden snake, crowned and coiled, mounted above the entrance on Karlova Street. This corner house took its present form in fourteen…