HOUSE AT THE GOLDEN RING

Tucked away in the tiny Týnská street near Old Town Square, there is a hidden gem. The House at the Golden Ring, which dates back to the early Gothic period, has preserved some of the late 15th-century frescoes and barrel vaulting, and is still associated with a mysterious legend.

They say, the beautiful golden ring inlaid into the stonework once belonged to a ghost, who lost it during one of his night walks. Some smart Prague citizen picked it up and fastened above the door of his house – to attract good luck and be protected from evil spirits.

Howsoever it may be, this is a charming place, which nowadays houses a multimedia museum. The permanent exhibition provides an insight into the transformation of the 14th-century Prague under the reign of Charles IV. One of the most visionary kings the world has ever seen, he received the Bohemian capital in quite a poor condition, weakened by political strife, and made it the third largest city in Europe.

Charles IV made an immense contribution to the way Prague looks even today, and this fascinating display showcases it via numerous models, videos and interactive screens, bringing history to life. There is also a lovely section for children, where they can build their own castles and dress up as kings.

Exposition Prague of Charles IV - the medieval city

The exhibition presents Charles IV's ideas and the actual reality of the transformation of Prague. Virtual and physical models of important Charles foundations, the whole agglomeration, the stone bridge and other buildings show the shape of the metropolis, transformed by the efforts of Charles and other Luxembourg rulers.

The exhibition offers a glimpse into the medieval city through material and virtual reconstructions of important Prague sites and individual buildings (the Cattle Market, the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, the Emmaus, the Stone Bell House, the Gothic new buildings in Charles Street, etc.). Attractive exhibits include models of Vyšehrad and Prague Castle or the St. Vitus Cathedral, which served religious and state needs in Charles' time.

A completely new idea is offered by the model of the New Castle near Kunratice, the seat of King Wenceslas IV, created according to the latest findings obtained by archaeological research. Virtual presentations introduce the way of town administration and the construction of the medieval bridge. Dramatic stops bring the atmosphere of the city, its life and some events, Charles' birth, his arrival in Prague in 1333, his coronation and funeral. The video mapping on the model of the whole Prague suburb and the model of Charles Square with its surroundings presents the construction and urban development of the city during the 14th century. The everyday life of the city and its inhabitants during the Luxembourg era is illustrated by unique archaeological findings and other original objects from the collections of the Museum of the City of Prague, the Prague branch of the National Heritage Institute and other institutions.

A separate part of the exhibition is the children's museum, which offers the youngest visitors the opportunity to experience different areas of life in Karlovy Vary's Prague.

Prague 1606

In 1606, Aegidius Sadeler, an important graphic artist and publisher, presented the capital of the Bohemian Kingdom to the city and the world. The copperplate design was created by Philippus van den Bosche and translated into copperplate by Johann Wechter.

The exhibition offers an insight into the life of Rudolphine Prague and its inhabitants through a nine-metre animation. The combined efforts of experts in history and modern technology have created a new Sadeler Prospectus... an image of a city filled with people and their joys and worries, an image of Rudolphine Prague in motion.