Legends of Prague: history, sights of the city, interesting facts. Legends and ghosts of Prague

Hello, Katerzina! Thank you very much from me and from my friends for organizing our excursions! Everything was very good, we had a wonderful time in Prague! All the time, starting with correspondence by e-mail and ending with the transfer to the airport, we felt your concern for us, your professionalism as a guide and organizer! If we come to Prague again, we will definitely contact you and also recommend you to all our friends. Svetlana Sokolova

Svetlana Sokolova Saint Petersburg

We used Katerzina's services twice: in May 2014 and in January 2015. Thank you very much, Katerzina, for the interesting and educational excursions that you organized and conducted! If anyone is looking for a guide to Prague, we recommend Katerzyna. She is a very interesting conversationalist, very friendly and punctual. You feel as if you have known her for many years. Children listen to her stories as if spellbound. Katerzyna knows the history and legends of her hometown very well. We will definitely come back and recommend to everyone! Sincerely, Natalya, Victor, Alexander, Elena and our children. Review left on the portal Turister.ru

Samsakova Natalya

I have known Katerzyna for several years. The first time I was with friends in Prague in 2008 and met Katerzyna. All the excursions were wonderful! I especially want to note Katerzyna’s punctuality and decency. The second time I was in Prague with my husband and son. My son was delayed in arriving for several hours, but despite the late hour, the excursion took place. Thank you very much!! And one more thing: my eldest son had a car accident near Prague, and in this case Katerzyna helped us a lot! For this, a special thank you to her!! This is not only a wonderful guide, but also a very sympathetic person!! Review from the Tourist portal. RU

Berezovskaya Vera

Hello, Katerzina! We remember you and your city with warmth! We will definitely come back again! I hope to meet you again.

Roman Krylov Russia, Moscow

Kotelnikova Isset

Hello Katerina! Thank you very much for the good organization of our events! Everyone really liked it. Denis Budenkov

Denis Budenkov Voronezh, Russia

Good afternoon, Katerina! Sorry that I am writing a little late, but I would like to thank you for your responsibility and attention to your work. Thank you for the excursion, for the transport and for meeting our children at the airport. Everyone really liked it, and we parents are glad that everything worked out and the children saw Prague. You are smart! Thank you very much, I am glad that I met such a professional like you on the Internet. Good luck to you in all your endeavors!

Olga Sereda Almaty, Kazakhstan

Good afternoon, Katerina! We are very grateful to you for organizing an interesting, exciting excursion around Prague. We are very pleased and will cherish the memory of this walk for a long time. I hope that someday we will be able to visit your hometown again. I am sending a photo of you during our excursion. Best wishes, Yuri, Tatyana.

Yuri, Tatyana Russia

Katerina, Good morning! I would like to thank you for the excursions. Parents are delighted!!! And a special THANK YOU for the waffles, they are sooo delicious. I hope that someday I will be able to come to Prague and listen to your interesting stories. Once again a huge THANK YOU. Elena Krylova

Elena Krylova Ekaterinburg

Thank you, Katerzina, for the excursions and pleasant communication!!! I liked everything very much. It's rare to find such professionals. Very interesting, informative and not trivial! In just a few days we learned so much that we would love to come on other excursions and exclusively with you, KATERZHINA! Thanks to you and your guys! Review left on the portal Turister.ru

Shalaev Alexander

Prague is one of the most mystical cities in Europe, and perhaps the whole world. G. Mayripk, a writer and financier (according to rumors, used forbidden occult techniques in the fight against competitors), gives his definition of the uniqueness of Prague: “Other cities, no matter how ancient they may be, seem to me to be slaves of those who live in them; they are like as if they were disinfected with some strong sterilizing acid - Prague controls its inhabitants like puppets: it pulls their strings from the first to last breath"... The magical essence of the city is best manifested in the low season, when autumn or spring fogs entering Prague from the Vltava-Moldau River return full rights of citizenship to the ghosts of different centuries and eras.

The modern capital of the Czech Republic was made up of four cities: Hradcany (grown around the royal fortress - Hrad), trade and university Old city(Stare Mesto), founded for German colonists by King Přemysl Otakar II quarter of Mala Strana and finally erected by Emperor Charles IV New town(Nove Mesto). Each of these cities had its own laws, rights and privileges. They merged into a single administrative system only in 1784. If we add here the ancient knightly Vysehrad and the Old Jewish Town, united with Prague only in 1850, then there are already six Prague cities.

The ancient Slavic city was founded in the 9th century by the princess-prophetess Libushe near the town of Melnik, where at the confluence of the Vltava and Laba waters the paths of Cech, Lech and Rus diverged.

The most ancient ghosts surround two Prague strongholds that acted as antitheses in history - the imperial residence of the Castle and the disgraced Vysehrad, with which, however, the first events of Czech history are connected. The wise and beautiful princess-prophetess Libuše, the founder of the Visegrad fortress on the rock above the Vltava, ordered the hero Přemysl to be brought to her straight from the plow to make him her husband. From their marriage came the dynasty of Czech kings. After Libuse's death, her friends tried to defend the matriarchal order in the famous War of the Maidens, but were defeated.

It is believed that Libuše did not lay down the burden of caring for her people even after her death. Her messenger - a headless knight - appears under the walls of Visegrad. He is tasked with finding out what life is like for Czechs in the Czech lands and reporting this to his mistress. ( Popular belief in his poetic vision does not consider the absence of a head as an obstacle to this task). If Libuše receives news that the Czechs need her help, she can stand up for her people. They say that under the cliff on which the Visegrad Castle was built, the knights of Libuše have been sleeping for more than a thousand years, ready to awaken at the word of their mistress.

Legend tells that Libuše, accompanied by young maidens, often went to the bathhouse under the walls of Vyšehrad. It is believed that when twilight falls on Prague, beauties from the last millennium appear in the place where they served their mistress, and a late traveler can hear their enchanting singing. In fact, the romantic Libuše bathhouse on the southern side of the fortress is the ruins of a 15th-century watchtower: river ships brought food here and lifted it up through a hollow in the rock.

The gloomy spirits of pagan times swirl, gathering near the City. They come from that era when the ancient gods of the Slavs desperately resisted the advent of a new faith. The founder of the City, Prince Borivoj (850-895), together with his wife Lyudmila, was converted to Christianity by the creator of the Slavic alphabet, Methodius. Borivoy had a son, Vorotislav. He himself was a good Christian, but his wife Dragomira, although she was baptized, followed pagan customs. After the death of Vorotislav, Dragomira became the ruler-regent under her young son Vyacheslav. A pagan not only by faith, but also by character, Dragomira was distinguished by her irrepressible disposition. Surrounding herself with like-minded people, she tried to turn back the history of the Czech Republic, reviving pre-Christian orders. Lyudmila tried to ensure that Dragomira was removed from board affairs. But the treacherous princess took cruel revenge on her mother-in-law. The assassins they sent broke into Lyudmila while she was praying and strangled her. This happened in 927. Folk legend tells about the terrible end of Dragomira.

One day she left Prague Castle to make a sacrifice to pagan deities. Along the way, Dragomira shouted curses at Christianity. Her blasphemies did not go unpunished - suddenly the earth opened up, sulfur flames blazed from the chasm, and the chariot with the princess was swallowed up by the hellish abyss. Prague residents know that Dragomira can appear in our time on a carriage engulfed in hellish fire without a coachman. On dark and stormy nights, amid the reflections of lightning and the howling of the wind, hellish horses carry her through the streets of Hradcan. Another legend says that the soul of the princess, who has not received repose, appears once a year in the form of a fiery dog ​​at the Church of St. Mikulasha.

Modern Cathedral of St. Vita (XIV century) includes ancient chapel, dedicated to the patron saint of the Czech lands, the holy passion-bearer Vyacheslav (Vaclav), the son of Vorotislav and Dragomira, killed in September 935. A door with a handle in the shape of a lion’s head leads into the luxuriously decorated chapel - it was this that the martyr prince grabbed onto as he fell under fatal blows. From the chapel of St. Wenceslas has a passage to the treasury where the royal regalia is kept - they are shown to the public only on special occasions. The crown of St. is also kept in this storeroom. Vaclav. Legend claims that anyone who dares to try on the crown of the holy prince will die terrible death. The last person to take the crown was the German protector of Bohemia and Moravia, Heydrich. Soon after this, his car was blown up by Czechoslovak saboteurs.

The Charles Bridge, built by master Peter Parler on the instructions of King Charles IV of the Luxembourg dynasty, connects not only Lesser Town with the Old Town - this bridge seems to have been thrown across centuries. During the era of the Crusades, the most important strategic crossing on the route that was supposed to end in Jerusalem was located here. There is evidence that the Charles Bridge was built in accordance with astrological and numerological prescriptions. Its sculpture gallery preserves the memory of sacred milestones of Czech history. According to legend, the place where the famous Prague knight stands was marked in ancient times by a pagan temple, and the idol, overthrown from here, still lies at the bottom of the river. The island of Kampa, spanned by a bridge, is separated from Malaya Strana channel called Chertovka. This name did not arise by chance - mills have stood here since ancient times (and millers, as you know, are known with evil spirits). One of the houses remained in Prague history under the name “At the Seven Devils”.

But there is also a spirit of holiness on the bridge. Between the sixth and seventh bays there is a statue of the holy bishop John of Nepomuk (Nepomuk). From this very place in 1393 the Prague archbishop was thrown into the river. Tradition says that King Wenceslas IV doomed him to death for refusing to reveal the queen's secret confession. Today, generally speaking, not very religious Czechs come to the statue to entrust their deepest secrets to Jan Nepomuk and make wishes (which they believe will be granted).

We have not yet named many Prague ghosts here. A silver horseman appears on Vratislavova Street - King Přemysl Otakar II; on Celetnaya, near Carolinum University, you can meet the ghosts of a prostitute and a priest (once an angry servant of God killed a harlot here and suddenly died from a stroke); in the pub “U Ribar” (and they say that in many other pubs too), a late visitor is not immune from meeting the melancholy Master Palekh, who once betrayed Jan Hus to death. A large number of ghosts are associated with the medieval community of alchemists and with the Jewish diaspora.

It has been suggested that the abundance of ghosts in Prague is due to some natural phenomenon, for example, the presence of radioactive rocks in the ground. But Prague itself, with its architectural landscape, remains the strongest factor influencing human consciousness. G. Meyrink, who never tired of being amazed by the city on the Vltava, admitted: “This fantastic Gothic with its sculptures, as if cast from dried blood! No matter how much I look at her, she never ceases to excite my soul.”

edited news Elfin - 1-11-2013, 07:06

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Black magic and inexplicable mysticism have attracted people for a long time. They captured their attention as well as their precious time. This is exactly how the mysterious Prague affects tourists.

Guests of the city eagerly listen to stories about strange events of past centuries and look at the objects with interest historical heritage. But greater delight on their faces can be seen when narrating or local resident Prague medieval legend of the Golem.

Although this city has a countless collection of myths and legends; the clear favorite is the story about an unusual creature.

According to legend, the “non-human” was created by the Jewish scientist Yehuda ben Bezalel (circa 1525-1609). IN Everyday life he was known as Rabbi Lev (Magaral). He was truly a wise thinker of his time; his advice helped more than ever to find a way out difficult situations. Therefore, as a sign of respect and eternal memory after the death of a Jewish rabbi, it was forbidden for anyone to occupy his former chair on right side.

The year 2009 marked the four hundredth anniversary of the Magarala, a symbol of the Prague Middle Ages. The restoration of the tombstones of the entire family of Rabbi Lev was carried out, which became the most visited objects of necropolis tourism in Prague.

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You can talk wildly about Magharal’s services to the people; but why listen when you can see everything with your own eyes?! This is precisely why the exhibition was created in () . Its main exhibits are some of the first published works of the philosopher Lev, including the story of the Golem.

The idea of ​​creating an artificial creature firmly “settled” in the minds of scientists of the Middle Ages. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that this topic constantly came up in city discussions. Some scientists even put forward ideas, describing them in their treatises. For example, the alchemist Paracelsus deciphered in detail the “biochemical” process of creating his homunculus. In his own work “De generatione rerum naturalium” the doctor argued that if a man’s semen is placed in a tightly closed glass container, previously lowered into horse dung, then signs of nascent life will certainly appear. But only forty days later, after complete decomposition, colorless human form without a body. Then, for forty weeks, it will need to be fed with particles from human blood, at a temperature close to the temperature of the mother’s body. The result of such a complex sequence will be the appearance of a miniature human child. It is unknown whether this concept was tested in reality, while there is only one creator of the Golem in the world and his name is Rabbi Lev.

Golem (homunculus) is a magical combination of the four stones of the world, the fundamental elements, i.e. fusion of water, fire, earth and air. This is how the rabbi answered questions from his assistants about materials for his “future son.”

The hard shell of the Golem's body was created from clay, and the remaining elements (water, air, fire) were used to revive it. They meant the rabbi himself and his assistants, who pronounced magical formulas.

There is another version of the inspiration of life in the Golem: the rabbi put a parchment with the prayer Shema Israel into his mouth and forehead. And after dressing the homunculus in robes, he began to look like a thirty-year-old man.

The mystical movement of Kabbalah notes great role"Shema" in the revival of a creature. Since their representatives believe that only the correct combination of letters in the designation of G-d is capable of creating a human being.

Purposes of creation

When ordinary people are not enough of their own physical strength or intellect, then a unanimous desire arises - to ask for help from the Gods, scientists, magicians, so that they create someone who will solve their problems.

The golem was not the only one who was artificially created. Even in ancient times, there were rumors about Pandora, created by the grace of the Gods; the great titan “Prometheus” tried to “reproduce” people with the help of pieces of clay from which their predecessors had previously been created, etc.

The reasons for reviving the Golem were most likely socio-political in nature. For the rabbi greeted his being with words that completely conveyed his main goal creation. He told Golem that now “he is the protection of the Jewish people.” And from that day on, Golem faithfully served his rabbi, and, of course, his state.

Process of creation

One night, Magaral was awakened by a mysterious voice that insistently demanded the creation of a defender of the Jewish people from oppression. Despite the fact that during the reign of Rudolf II, Jews in Prague did not feel much oppression in the sixteenth century, but the royal conspirators wanted to deprive the city of peace. Therefore, someone was needed who could rid Prague of traitors.

The Golem lacked human emotions and had no sense of compassion for others. He was a loyal fighter for his people. And his endless strength more than once helped the rabbi himself in everyday life.

The golem never complained of fatigue, he simply did not feel it. And in order to somehow preserve his energy, every Friday the rabbi pulled out the “Shema” from the Golem’s head.

But in life everything comes to an end, and so the adventures of the Golem among the Jewish people were over. The rabbi got tired of the sluggish servant, so he decided to put him to sleep forever.

Magaral took the Shema out of the Golem's mouth forever and, with the help of his students, carefully hid it in the attic of the Old New Synagogue in Prague.

And no matter how curious reporters led by Egon Erwin Kisch tried to find the soulless creature, it was all in vain.

The story of the Golem's limitless abilities and the extent of their use has forever become an example of human negligence towards their creatures.

Source of inspiration

Unfortunately, no matter how beautiful the legend about the mystical monster was, the reality of that time was very different from it. And freedom was given to the Prague Jew not by a clay defender, but by an enlightened emperor. Even the fascinating topic about the creation of the Golem does not belong to a rabbi. Similar episodes have already appeared in ancient Jewish legends.

However, this does not affect popularity at all. legends about the rabbi and the golem. In addition, it is constantly embodied in works of literature, visual arts, movie.

Judita Rosenbergova, Gustav Meyrink, Jorge Borges are the authors who managed to bring the Golem to life in their literary masterpieces, and Paul Wegener and Martin Fritsch are the directors who showed mystical creature on television screens.

Hello friends!

Autumn evenings are conducive to reading.

I don’t know about you, but on the eve of Halloween I’m drawn to mysticism and legends.

Reading Czech is still gymnastics for my mind, so, in parallel with Czech version I enjoy reading legends in Russian.

In September, I met Galina Puntusova, the author of the book “Legends and Stories of Old Prague.”

Today I am pleased to offer you an interview with her.

Have fun reading!

Nastya: Galina, your profession is not related to the Czech language, as far as I know, you are an engineer. Please tell us how your love for Prague, the Czech Republic, Czech culture and history arose? Do you still visit Prague every year since 2006?

Galina: It appeared in 2006. During my arrival in Prague, at the invitation of a Czech, I was given a book for evening reading - a collection Prague legends. And I tried to speak Czech with the Czech.

At first, it was probably torment for him. Many years ago, an acquaintance and I translated short articles for a music club. And then I remembered. Now I speak, think and read in Czech almost the same as in Russian, only sometimes with errors and with an accent.

How not to love the Czech Republic, how not to love Prague?

Czechs are such friendly, sincere people.

What The Czech Republic and Prague – the heart of Europe – are not just beautiful words. This is true.

Nastya: How did you learn the Czech language and how did you reach such a level that you became the author of 3 best-selling books: Prague Legends and two volumes of “The Secrets of Old Prague”?

Galina: I was too lazy to learn both Czech and English, so I learned by myself as I read books, with minimal looking into the dictionary.

So the order of words in a sentence is learned better than from a textbook, and unknown words gradually acquire a specific meaning, and no overexertion, just pleasure.

I am a translator of articles that I post on my website “Prague. Shadows of the past." Personally, there are few of my articles there.

And my books are written using materials from old books and research by modern Czech “riddlers”.

Perhaps I will become a translator into Russian of a book by a Czech researcher. But this issue is still being resolved - first he needs to decide on the publication.

Nastya: You are a member of the Chapek brothers society in St. Petersburg, what projects are you currently implementing? Which ones have you already implemented?

Galina: Russian-Czech Society named after. The Chapek brothers deal with cultural issues, both modern and past centuries.

I made several reports. My December report was about Karlshtein.

Nastya: Please tell us how you came up with the idea of ​​creating your website. Did you take the photos and choose the blog design yourself?

Galina: I started making websites in 1999, focusing on their content.

Then in 2003, together with a friend from Gatchina, we created a website about Gatchina, then we divided it, and each of us has our own website with our own content. I have “Gatchina through the centuries”.

The site about Prague (editor’s note: “Prague. Shadows of the past. Legends of old Prague”) first appeared as simply translations of several Prague legends posted on the Internet - it’s not like sending them out in Word documents to friends for reading, when I’m more accustomed to formatting them as a site.

As the legends were collected and translated, it had already taken the form of a full-fledged website, and not a link for reading. Other themes followed the legends.

But they all concern old Prague, disappeared Prague, mystical Prague.

Nastya: How did you come up with the idea of ​​translating legends from Czech into Russian? Why are you attracted to legends? What is the power of this literary genre In your opinion?

Galina: As I already answered above – an accident. They gave me a book. While walking around Prague, I imagined characters from legends.

Later, using historical chronicles, I clarified the addresses where the events described in the legends took place. And it was a shock!

The ghosts found a specific place to stay, the story was tied not to some unknown house on the street, but to a specific one, in which, for example, I was tasting wine yesterday.

Reading remotely differs from perceiving legends in their specific place. Therefore, some perceive legends as a collection of fairy tales. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone thinks that I made up these legends (“It could have been more interesting and something new”).

The essence of the legends is that these incidents really happened, and in a specific place.

Then they retold them, adding their own details for more interesting plot. And over time, for some legends this plot became unrecognizable.

Like, for example, a fire in an alchemical laboratory - after the explosion, the fire spread along the underground corridor, breaking out through its arch and between the paving stones above it, thanks to enthusiastic storytellers it turned into a wagon of fire goats. Not all legends manage to get to the incident that gave rise to this legend.

Galina: I didn't think about it. I collected information that interested me, translated it and put it on the website, which, in essence, is a library of articles about Prague, united by one topic

Nastya: How to get to your excursion in Prague?

Galina: I conducted excursions once. It was interesting for me to feel it myself and to tell a group of listeners information that was dear and interesting to me, so that we could plunge into past centuries with love for old Prague.

To imagine as much as possible what and how it was, forgetting that we are standing on an area that has long been demolished and redeveloped.

In my head it was like a revival of the past. But you can agree in advance, and when I arrive in Prague, I will give you a tour.

Why not visit bygone centuries again? 🙂

Nastya: Which routes and which places in Prague are your favorite? Why?

Galina: Where old houses have been preserved and where there are few people.

There I have spiritual contact with old Prague - I feel good, calm, the most the right word– v pohodě.

Nastya: What works of Czech literature resonated with you (besides legends?) and why? What would you recommend reading?

Galina: If you are interested in the topic of old Prague, then books by Ales Cesal, Ivan Mackerle, Bohumil Wurm, Jan Antonin Novak are in modern Czech.

I like books by Zikmund Winter and other authors of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

There is an older Czech language, and this is exactly the manner, old Czech, as the Czechs say, strokes my soul, calms and transports you to those distant times.

Nastya: What should we learn from the Czechs and the Czech Republic?

Galina: Sincerity, kindness. Although you know better - you live here, and I come on vacation.

Nastya: What is your Prague like? What word characterizes Prague for you?