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The Secrets of Prague

Where Gothic Spires Meet Velvet Revolution Dreams

They call it the City of a Hundred Spires, but that’s an undercount. Prague has over five hundred. For more than a millennium, emperors, alchemists, and revolutionaries have shaped these cobblestoned streets into something no other European capital can match. Walk through the medieval Old Town, cross the Charles Bridge, and climb to the castle district where Bohemian kings once plotted the fate of empires.

10
Stops
~2h
Journey
10
Riddles

How to Play

  1. Tap a stop to read its story
  2. Solve the riddle — tap your answer
  3. The truth (+ hidden history) is revealed!
  4. Tap the 📍 address to navigate via Google Maps
The Medieval Heart
The Clock That Blinded Its Maker

A 600-year-old machine that still tracks the sun, moon, and zodiac every hour.

⏰
Astronomical Clock (Orloj)
Medieval · 1410
📍 Staroměstské náměstí 1/3, 110 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
You stand in the Old Town Square, neck craned upward, watching the most famous clock in the world tick toward the hour. The Prague Orloj has been marking time since 1410, making it the oldest astronomical clock still in operation. Its face tracks not just hours, but the position of the sun and moon through the zodiac, the Bohemian calendar, and the phases of Old Czech time.

Legend says that when master clockmaker Hanuš completed the Orloj, the city councillors had him blinded so he could never build another. In revenge, Hanuš reached into the mechanism and stopped the clock—and no one could fix it for decades.
🧩 Riddle
What happens every hour when the Astronomical Clock strikes?
💡 Need a hint?
Look up at the small windows above the clock face.
🎉 The Answer
B. The Twelve Apostles parade past two windows
The skeleton figure on the Orloj represents Death, and it nods to the other figures (Vanity, Greed, and a Turkish invader) each hour, reminding them that time comes for everyone. The Turk figure was originally a Jew—it was redesigned after WWII out of sensitivity.
The Gothic Skyline
The Twin Towers That Fooled a King

Two spires that have defined Prague’s silhouette for over 500 years.

⛪
Church of Our Lady before Týn
Gothic · 1365–1511
📍 Staroměstské náměstí, 110 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
The twin Gothic spires of Týn Church rise 80 meters above Old Town Square, their dark silhouette unmistakable against the Prague sky. Construction began in 1365 under Emperor Charles IV, but the church took nearly 150 years to complete. Look carefully at the two towers: they are not identical. The north tower is slightly wider than the south—a deliberate medieval choice representing the masculine and feminine sides of the world.

Inside lies the grave of Tycho Brahe, the Danish astronomer who famously lost his nose in a duel and wore a prosthetic one made of gold and silver.
🧩 Riddle
What is unusual about Tycho Brahe’s prosthetic nose, which he wore after losing his real one in a duel?
💡 Need a hint?
Think precious metals—and the reason for the duel was a mathematical argument.
🎉 The Answer
B. It was made of gold and silver alloy
Modern forensic analysis of Brahe’s exhumed remains in 2010 confirmed traces of brass (copper and zinc) on his nasal bone, suggesting his everyday nose was actually brass, not the gold-silver one he wore for formal occasions. He had multiple prosthetic noses for different situations.
The Royal Route
The Gate That Stored Gunpowder Instead of Guarding Kings

A ceremonial gateway that became a warehouse for explosives.

🏰
Powder Tower (Prašná brána)
Gothic · 1475
📍 Nám. Republiky 5, 110 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
You’re standing at the start of the Royal Route—the ancient path Bohemian kings followed from here to Prague Castle for their coronations. The Powder Tower was begun in 1475 as a grand ceremonial entrance to the Old Town. Its architect, Matěj Rejsek, loaded it with ornate Late Gothic decoration.

But the tower was never finished as intended. When King Vladislav II moved his court up to Prague Castle, the tower lost its royal purpose. By the 17th century, it had been reduced to a gunpowder storage depot—which is how it got its current name.
🧩 Riddle
Why is the Powder Tower called the ‘Powder’ Tower?
💡 Need a hint?
After losing its original royal function, the building was repurposed for storing something volatile.
🎉 The Answer
B. It stored gunpowder in the 17th century
The Powder Tower stands 65 meters tall and you can climb its 186 steps for panoramic views. Next door is the Municipal House (Obecní dům), Prague’s finest Art Nouveau building, built 1905–1912. The juxtaposition of 15th-century Gothic and early 20th-century Art Nouveau is one of Prague’s most photographed architectural contrasts.
The Jewish Quarter
Europe’s Oldest Active Synagogue and the Golem’s Attic

A 750-year-old synagogue where services have barely stopped since the 13th century.

✡
Old New Synagogue
Gothic · c. 1270
📍 Červená 2, 110 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
You’re entering Josefov, Prague’s historic Jewish Quarter, and before you stands the oldest active synagogue in Europe. The Old New Synagogue has held continuous services since approximately 1270—through plagues, pogroms, and Nazi occupation. Its Early Gothic vaulted ceiling is unique: the builders used five ribs instead of the standard four, deliberately avoiding the shape of a cross.

But the most famous story lies in the attic. Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel is said to have created the Golem—a clay giant animated by a holy word inscribed on its forehead—to protect the Jewish community. The attic has been sealed for centuries.
🧩 Riddle
How many ribs does the vault of the Old New Synagogue have, and why is this unusual?
💡 Need a hint?
The builders deliberately avoided a number associated with Christianity.
🎉 The Answer
C. Five ribs, to avoid forming a cross
The name ‘Old New’ is itself a mystery. One theory: it was called the ‘New’ Synagogue when built, then became the ‘Old New’ when even newer synagogues were constructed. Another theory derives from the Hebrew ‘Al Tenai’ (on condition)—a legend that stones from the destroyed Temple in Jerusalem were used ‘on the condition’ they’d be returned when the Temple was rebuilt.
The Stone Crossing
The Bridge Built on a Cosmic Number

A 600-year-old bridge whose construction date was chosen by astrologers.

🌉
Charles Bridge (Karlův most)
Gothic · 1357–1402
📍 Karlův most, 110 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
Emperor Charles IV laid the first stone of this bridge at precisely 5:31 AM on July 9, 1357. That date and time were not random—court astrologers chose them because they form the palindrome 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1. The bridge was meant to be cosmically invincible.

For 500 years it was the only crossing over the Vltava. Thirty Baroque statues were added in the 17th and 18th centuries. The most touched statue is that of St. John of Nepomuk—rubbing the bronze plaque beneath it supposedly grants a wish and guarantees your return to Prague.
🧩 Riddle
Why was the first stone of Charles Bridge laid at exactly 5:31 AM on July 9, 1357?
💡 Need a hint?
Write out the date and time as digits and read them forward and backward.
🎉 The Answer
B. The numbers form a palindrome: 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1
St. John of Nepomuk was thrown from this very bridge in 1393 on the orders of King Wenceslas IV, allegedly for refusing to reveal the queen’s confessional secrets. Where his body hit the water, five stars supposedly appeared—which is why he’s always depicted with a halo of five stars.
The Velvet Resistance
The Wall That Wouldn’t Stay Clean

A graffiti wall that became a symbol of peaceful defiance against communism.

🎨
Lennon Wall
Modern · 1980s–present
📍 Velkopřevorské náměstí, 118 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
This wall has nothing to do with John Lennon visiting Prague—he never did. After Lennon’s assassination in 1980, someone painted his portrait on this wall belonging to the Knights of Malta. Young Czechs, suffocating under communist rule, began adding Beatles lyrics, political messages, and love poems. The secret police painted over it. By morning, it was covered again.

This cat-and-mouse game continued throughout the 1980s. The authorities called the wall’s visitors ‘alcoholics, mentally deranged, sociopaths, and agents of Western capitalism.’ They installed surveillance cameras. Nothing worked.
🧩 Riddle
What institution owns the wall on which the Lennon Wall graffiti is painted?
💡 Need a hint?
Think of a medieval Catholic military order still active today.
🎉 The Answer
C. The Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta
In 2014, a group of art students painted the entire wall white with the message ‘Wall Is Over.’ Praguers were furious. Within 24 hours, the wall was covered in fresh graffiti again, proving that the Lennon Wall cannot be stopped—not by communists, not even by art students.
The Baroque Explosion
The Church the Secret Police Used as a Spy Post

Prague’s most extravagant Baroque interior—with a Cold War secret in its bell tower.

⛪
St. Nicholas Church (Malá Strana)
Baroque · 1704–1755
📍 Malostranské náměstí, 118 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
If you want to understand what Baroque architecture was trying to do—overwhelm, astonish, make you feel the power of God and the Church—this is the building. St. Nicholas Church took three generations of architects over 50 years to complete. The interior is a riot of frescoes, gilded statues, and marble in every shade.

During the Cold War, the StB (Czechoslovak secret police) used the bell tower as a surveillance post to spy on the nearby Western embassies. You can now climb the tower and see the cramped space where agents worked.
🧩 Riddle
During the Cold War, what did the Czechoslovak secret police use the bell tower of St. Nicholas Church for?
💡 Need a hint?
Western embassies were conveniently located within sight of the tower.
🎉 The Answer
C. Surveillance of nearby Western embassies
The church’s dome fresco by Johann Lukas Kracker is one of the largest in Europe at 1,500 square meters—roughly the size of three basketball courts. Mozart played the organ here in 1787, and his Requiem was performed in this church shortly after his death as a memorial.
The Castle Heights
The Largest Ancient Castle in the World

A castle complex so vast it holds a cathedral, a palace, gardens, and a golden lane.

🏰
Prague Castle & St. Vitus Cathedral
Romanesque to Gothic · 870–1929
📍 Pražský hrad, 119 08 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
At nearly 70,000 square meters, Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. It has been the seat of Bohemian kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and Czech presidents for over 1,000 years.

Dominating the complex is St. Vitus Cathedral, which took nearly 600 years to complete (1344–1929). Inside, the Chapel of St. Wenceslas glitters with 1,372 semi-precious stones and scenes from the life of Bohemia’s patron saint.
🧩 Riddle
How long did it take to complete St. Vitus Cathedral from first stone to final consecration?
💡 Need a hint?
Construction began under Charles IV in 1344 and wasn’t officially completed until the 20th century.
🎉 The Answer
C. Nearly 600 years
Prague Castle is home to the Bohemian Crown Jewels, locked behind a door requiring seven keys held by seven different people (including the President and the Archbishop). The crown’s centerpiece is a sapphire weighing 330 carats.
National Awakening
The Theatre That Burned and Rose in 47 Days

A building funded by the entire Czech nation—twice.

🎭
National Theatre (Národní divadlo)
Neo-Renaissance · 1868–1883
📍 Národní 2, 110 00 Praha 1
▸
📖 The Story
The National Theatre represents the most extraordinary act of collective will in Czech history. In the 1860s, Czechs living under Habsburg rule decided they needed their own theatre—one where plays and operas would be performed in Czech, not German. Ordinary citizens donated money. Farmers sold crops. Workers gave a day’s wages.

The theatre opened on June 11, 1881, with a performance of Smetana’s Libuše. Eleven days later, it burned down. Within 47 days, the Czech public had donated enough to rebuild it entirely. The inscription above the stage reads: ‘Národ sobě’—The Nation to Itself.
🧩 Riddle
What happened just 11 days after the National Theatre’s grand opening in 1881?
💡 Need a hint?
The building suffered a catastrophe, but the Czech people’s response was extraordinary.
🎉 The Answer
B. A fire destroyed the theatre
The fundraising for the rebuild was so swift that a new phrase entered the Czech language: ‘sbírka na Národní divadlo’ (a collection for the National Theatre) became a metaphor for any impossible goal achieved through collective effort. The gold crown atop the theatre was paid for entirely by Prague’s pub owners.
The Modern Edge
The Building Prague Loved to Hate

Frank Gehry’s controversial dance partner on the Vltava riverbank.

🏢
Dancing House (Tančící dům)
Deconstructivist · 1992–1996
📍 Jiráskovo náměstí 1981/6, 120 00 Praha 2
▸
📖 The Story
When this building appeared on the Prague skyline in 1996, people were furious. A twisting, leaning glass-and-concrete structure nicknamed ‘Fred and Ginger’ had no business standing among Prague’s Baroque and Art Nouveau facades. President Václav Havel, who had lived next door his entire life, championed the project.

The building was meant to symbolize a new, post-communist Prague—dynamic, open, unafraid. The ‘dancing’ form represents the transition from rigidity to freedom. Today it houses offices, a gallery, and a rooftop restaurant with one of the best views in Prague.
🧩 Riddle
Who championed the construction of the Dancing House despite widespread public opposition?
💡 Need a hint?
He was a playwright who became the first president of the Czech Republic.
🎉 The Answer
B. President Václav Havel
The spot where the Dancing House stands was empty since 1945, when an American bombing raid (intended for nearby Dresden) accidentally destroyed the original building. For 50 years it was just a gap in the riverfront. Milunić’s original working title for the design was ‘New Renaissance’.

🌟 Beyond the Walk

Prague’s greatest hits beyond today’s route

🏰
Vyšehrad Fortress
The ‘other castle’ on a cliff above the Vltava. Far fewer tourists, stunning views, and the cemetery where Dvořák, Smetana, and Mucha are buried.
📍 V Pevnosti 159/5b, 128 00 Praha 2
📚
Strahov Monastery Library
Two of the most beautiful library halls in existence—the Theological Hall (1679) and Philosophical Hall (1794). Frescoed ceilings, ancient globes, leather-bound volumes.
📍 Strahovské nádvoří 1, 118 00 Praha 1
💀
Sedlec Ossuary (Bone Church)
An hour from Prague by train, this chapel in Kutná Hora is decorated with the bones of 40,000 people—chandeliers, coats of arms, all from skeletal remains.
📍 Zámecká 127, 284 03 Kutná Hora
🌿
Petřín Hill & Lookout Tower
Prague’s own mini Eiffel Tower (60 meters, built 1891). Take the funicular up, climb 299 steps for a 360-degree panorama.
📍 Petřínské sady, 118 00 Praha 1
🎨
Mucha Museum
Dedicated to Alphonse Mucha, the Czech Art Nouveau master. Small but beautifully curated, with original lithographs and personal photographs.
📍 Panská 7, 110 00 Praha 1
🍺
U Fleků Brewery
Brewing dark lager since 1499—the only pub in Prague that has brewed continuously for over 500 years. The signature 13° dark beer is served nowhere else.
📍 Křemencova 11, 110 00 Praha 1
🖼️
DOX Centre for Contemporary Art
Prague’s boldest contemporary gallery in a converted factory. The rooftop airship ‘Gulliver’ is a wooden blimp you can walk through.
📍 Poupětova 1, 170 00 Praha 7

"Prague never lets you go. This dear little mother has sharp claws." — Franz Kafka

Est. c. 870 — Město stověží
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