Golden Lane

What is supposed to be a historical alley located within the complex of the Prague Castle, the bright and picturesque Golden Lane brings to mind images of the many miniature cottages that were characters in their own right in almost all of Enid Blyton’s works. In reality, the 16th century artisans and alchemists once called these dollhouses home. Today, these historic cabins have been fantastically restored in order to paint a picture of the kind of life these people led during their times. Right from the houses of soothsayers to skilled seamstresses and film historians to shrewd goldsmiths, every one of them looks like the owners still very much live there. A handful of the cottages now function as bookstores and souvenir shops.
The most well-known of all the cottages is House 22, the one in which Franz Kafka’s sister Ottla lived. Kafka himself spent a couple of years (two to be precise) in her quaint house in order to pen some of his most popular works. A multitude of tourists now throng to the Golden Lane merely to see the cottage that once provided shelter to the writer. As you stroll down the Golden Lane, an unexplainable yet tangible feeling encapsulates you. It probably is the magic of Kafka and the storehouse of talent that he was.
Hop on to tram 22 in order to reach Pražský Hrad or the Prague Castle. Get down at Pohorelec and walk right up to the complex. The Golden Lane is open from 9 am till 5 pm during the summer months and till 4 pm during winters.