Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Continue walking downhill through the castle grounds. Turn
left on the first street, which leads into the...
Golden Lane (Zlatá Ulička) —his street of old buildings, which
originally housed goldsmiths, is
jammed with tourists during the
day and lined with overpriced gift
shops. Franz Kaf ka lived brief ly
at #22. There's a deli/bistro at
the top. In the morning (before
9:00) and at night (after 18:00 in
summer, 17:00 in winter), the tiny
street is free, empty, and roman-
tic. Exit the lane through a cor-
ridor at the last house (#12).
Toy and Barbie Museum (Muzeum Hraček) —At the bot-
tom of the castle complex, just after leaving the Golden Lane, a
long, wooden staircase leads to two entertaining floors of old toys
and dolls thoughtfully described in English. You'll see a century
of teddy bears, 19th-century model train sets, and an incredible
Barbie collection (the entire top floor). Find the buxom 1959 first
edition, and you'll understand why these capitalistic sirens of
material discontent weren't allowed here until 1989 (60 Kč, 120 Kč
per family, not included in any castle tickets, daily 9:30-17:30, WC
next to entrance).
After Your Castle Visit: Tourists squirt slowly through a
fortified door at the bottom end of the castle. From there, you
can follow the steep lane directly back to the riverbank...or turn
right about halfway down the steps to visit the newly reopened
Fürstenberg Gardens, with 3,500 flowering plants and 2,200 rose
bushes (80 Kč, April-Oct daily from 10:00 until one hour before
sunset). Either way you will end up at the Malostranská Metro
station.
Or, as you walk out of the castle gate, you can take a hard right
and stroll through the long, delightful park. Along the way, notice
the modernist design of the Na Valech Garden, which was carried
out by the court architect of the 1920s, Jože Plečnik of Slovenia.
Halfway through the long park is a viewpoint overlooking the
terraced Pálf y Gardens; you can zigzag down through these gar-
dens into the Little Quarter (80 Kč, April-Oct daily 10:00-18:00,
closed Nov-March).
If you continue through the park all the way to Castle Square,
you'll find two more options: a staircase leading down into the
Little Quarter, or a cobbled street taking you to historic Nerudova
street (described on page 91).
Congratulations. You've conquered the castle.
 
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