About Zlatá ulička
Golden Lane, also known as Alchemists' Alley, is a picturesque passage along the inner wall of Prague Castle. The eleven small houses, built in the sixteenth century, originally served as quarters for the castle guards before goldsmiths moved in. The spot is best known for the legend that alchemists searched here for the philosopher's stone under Emperor Rudolf II. Between 1916 and 1917, the writer Franz Kafka lived in one of the little houses and wrote parts of his work there. After a thorough renovation in the twentieth century, when the colorful facades were designed, the lane is now uninhabited. Today you can explore a permanent exhibition of medieval armor, as well as cafés and souvenir shops, and soak up the historic atmosphere of the castle wall.
At a glance
- Category
- Sight › Historic sites
- Rating
- no reviews yet · write a review
- Address
- Zlatá Ulička, Masná 9
110 00 Prague, Czechia - District
- Praha 1
- Phone
- +420224373368
- Website
- www.hrad.cz
- —
- Coordinates
- 50.09220° N · 14.40390° E
- Data quality
- confidence 0.95
- Identifier
- ID 627fc993-f5c…
Location & surroundings
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During the reign of Rudolf II, goldsmiths lived in a lively alleyway filled with tiny workshops, which were also their residence, hence its name. Tiny, cobblestoned walkway filled with brightly-painted little houses, where modern man has a hard time standing with the low ceiling. (It's tough to realize just how tiny our pre-20th-century ancestors were until you go somewhere like this). Franz Kafka occupied No. 22 from 1916 to 1917, and this is why most people visit the Golden Lane. There is also a Renaissance tavern, a castle guard's house including his colorful uniform, and a goldsmith's shop shown as they might have looked during the periods represented, and those are interesting. Otherwise, there really isn't another good reason unless you want to buy some overpriced souvenirs in the small shops now occupying the houses.
Source: Wikivoyage, „Prague/Castle and Lesser Town“ · authors per page history · CC BY-SA 4.0 · as of 8/24/2026