Golden Lane, Medieval street in Prague Castle, Czech Republic
Golden Lane is a medieval street within the Prague Castle complex in Prague 1, Hradčany district, in the Czech Republic. It consists of eleven tiny houses painted in different colors, forming a continuous row along the northern castle wall.
The lane appeared in the 16th century when Rudolf II ordered the construction of dwellings for his castle guards along the northern fortification wall. In later centuries, craftsmen, writers, and poor families moved into the houses until they opened as a museum in the mid-20th century.
The name refers to the goldsmiths who set up workshops here from the 17th century onward, though the houses were originally built for castle guards. Today the tiny rooms display furniture and objects from different centuries, showing how people lived in these cramped quarters.
Access is included in castle ticket Circuit A or B, but after the castle grounds close, entry becomes free and visitors can walk through the street. The houses are very small, and on busy days it can feel tight inside the rooms.
Franz Kafka wrote in house number 22 between 1916 and 1917, while Nobel laureate Jaroslav Seifert lived in a different house in 1929. The two writers occupied the small rooms at different times and used the quiet of the lane for their work.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
