Discover Prague Castle's Golden Lane Exhibitions and Daliborka Tower History
Journey through five centuries of life along this picturesque street, exploring historical dwellings and famous residents like Franz Kafka.
Explore Prague Castle's Golden Lane, a picturesque street featuring colorful houses within ancient fortifications that now host engaging exhibitions. Discover the historical dwellings and workshops, revealing life over five centuries. Uncover stories of its inhabitants, including author Franz Kafka, and explore the nearby Bílá and Daliborka Towers, adding depth to this unique historical experience.
About Prague Castle — Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower at Podskalská Customs House at Výtoň in Prague
Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Prague Castle — Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower at Podskalská Customs House at Výtoň in Prague
Exhibition summary
Explore the Golden Lane, a picturesque street within Prague Castle featuring colorful houses built into fortifications that showcase exhibitions on life over the past five centuries. Discover historical dwellings, workshops, and the stories of its inhabitants, including Franz Kafka.
Curatorial context
The Golden Lane, nestled between the Bílá Tower and the Daliborka Tower at Prague Castle, is a charming street lined with colorful houses built into the castle's fortifications around the end of the 16th century. After extensive renovation, these houses now host exhibitions that illustrate life in the lane over the past five centuries. Each of the nine interior exhibitions depicts real individuals and their environments, from the 16th century to the 1950s, including guardians, a goldsmith, a herbalist, a renowned clairvoyant, and an amateur film historian who sheltered films against the Nazis. Franz Kafka resided and worked in house number 22 from 1916 to 1917, and his former residence is a notable exhibit. Other houses feature shops selling handmade souvenirs.
The lane also includes a defensive corridor now lined with knight's armor, accessible from the Bílá Tower or the green house near Daliborka Tower. The Bílá Tower, historically a prison for nobility, now features an alchemist's room, though alchemists never actually lived in the Golden Lane. The Daliborka Tower, a formidable round tower dating back to 1496, served as a prison until 1781 and is named after its first inmate, Dalibor of Kozojedy. Visitors can see its dungeon and the pulley system used to lower prisoners. The Golden Lane itself underwent a significant reconstruction between 2010 and 2011, preserving its unique historical character.
Admission and ticket notes
Admission to the Golden Lane is part of the Prague Castle circuit admission. After closing hours, the lane is accessible for free without interior access to the houses. Standard admission is CZK 450, concessions CZK 300, and family tickets are CZK 950.
Prague Castle — Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower key exhibition facts
Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Prague Castle — Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower at Podskalská Customs House at Výtoň in Prague
Venue
Podskalská Customs House at Výtoň
Current status
Completed
Exhibition schedule
Jan 1, 1955 – Oct 31, 2024
Artist line / attribution
Information not currently available
Prague
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