Ghosts & Legends of Old Town Walking Tour

You'll walk toward the Jewish Quarter next. This is Josefov. In the late 1500s, Prague was obsessed with alchemy. Rabbi Loew ben Bezalel lived here during a dangerous time for his people. Legend says he used Kabbalah to build a protector. He made a giant out of river clay. He called it the Golem. He brought it to life by putting a parchment called a shem in its mouth. It protected the community for years. But the creature didn't have a soul. It eventually lost control and started smashing the city. The Rabbi had to pull the parchment out to stop the rampage. He supposedly hid the remains in the Old-New Synagogue's attic. People still talk about a Nazi officer who died trying to break into that sacred space.

The tour ends by the Týn Church. Look at those Gothic spires. They hide a story about a cruel noblewoman. She strangled her maid because she was angry about a small mistake. The law didn't touch her because she had money. But the church bells drove her mad. Every ring reminded her of the murder. She gave her money away and joined a convent. It didn't work. They call her the Bell-Ringing Nun now. She supposedly haunts the towers trying to find forgiveness. There's also the Turk of Ungelt nearby. He’s a betrayed merchant who haunts the courtyard. These stories show the grit beneath Prague's pretty surface. You'll leave with a different view of the Old Town.