overview opening hours admission about the place This tiny street between the Bílá Tower and the Daliborka Tower is lined with colourful houses resembling something out of a fairy tale. These houses were built into the castle's fortifications around the end of the 16th century and were occupied until the Second World War. The current appearance of the Golden Lane dates to the year 1955, and after a recent extensive renovation, the houses now contain exhibitions about life in the lane over the past 500 years. Franz Kafka lived and worked in house number 22 from 1916 to 1917. The Golden Lane is part of the Prague Castle guided tour. opening hours november—march mon—sun 9:00—16:00 april—october mon—sun 9:00—17:00 more about opening hours admission part of the Prague Castle circuit admission (admission: standard CZK 450 | concessions CZK 300 | family CZK 950) after the closing time the Lane is accessible for free without the possibility to visit the interiors of the houses more about admission admission part of the Prague Castle circuit admission (admission: standard CZK 450 | concessions CZK 300 | family CZK 950) after the closing time the Lane is accessible for free without the possibility to visit the interiors of the houses Admission fees in detail tours Permanent exhibition in nine out of the 16 houses, documenting the life in the lane over the past five centuries. All the rooms depict real persons (except for the alchemists, who are fictitious) who lived there from the 16th century all the way to the 1950s; for example the household of the lane’s oldest citizens — the so called red shooters who would guard the castle gates, a goldsmith’s workshop, a pub, a herbalist’s house, the household of renowned Prague clairvoyant and fortune—teller Matylda Průšová, or of an amateur film historian, Mr. Kazda, who would hide copies of the contemporary Czech films against the Nazis.In other houses, there are little stores with hand-made souvenirs, such as wooden toys, marionettes, ceramics, tin figures, jewellery or books relating to the most famous citizen of this lane — Franz Kafka. Defensive corridor leads over the roofs of the houses and is hidden behind stone masonry of the walls. Formerly empty corridor is now lined with knight armour. Access from the Bílá věž (White Tower) or the green house near the Daliborka Tower. Bílá věž (White Tower) closes the western end of Golden Lane. Formerly a defensive tower was used as a prison from 1586 where offenders especially from the nobility were imprisoned. Last prisoner left the tower in 1743. Today, visitors can see an alchemist’s room here. However, alchemists have never lived in the Golden Lane. Daliborka — at the eastern end of the Golden Lane stands a round tower, shrouded in legend. Dating back to 1496, the tower, which served as a prison until 1781, is named after its first inmate — Dalibor of Kozojedy. In addition to the dungeon with its monumental vaults, there is a circular opening in the floor through which offenders were lowered into the oubliette with the help of a pulley. Small café opening hours november—march mon—sun 9:00—16:00 april—october mon—sun 9:00—17:00 history At about the middle of the Jiřská Street, there is a turning to the picturesque Golden Lane. In the past, it used to be called the Goldsmiths Lane, perhaps it served as dwelling for the goldsmiths. It was founded between the Romanic and the late Gothic fortifications at the Castle’s Northern side. Little houses were built in the fortification arches of the defence walls built by Benedikt Ried around 1500, and behind them, there are the peaks of the fortifications. Underroof is formed by a defence corridor connecting the White Tower and Daliborka. In the 16th century, there were distress houses here; in the era of Rudolf II it was a dwelling for the members of the castle guard. Later on, poor people lived here. Franz Kafka had his office in house No. 22 in 1917, and writers and poets (František Halas, Jaroslav Seifert, Vítězslav Nezval) used to meet in house No. 12, the home of Jiří Mařánek. From here, there is an entrance to a terrace of the late-Gothic fortifications between Daliborka and the Black Tower. After World War II, the houses were not inhabited any more. In the years 2010—2011, the Golden Lane went through a complex reconstruction. Today there is a permanent exposition in nine out of the 16 houses, documenting the life in the lane over the past five centuries. All the rooms depict real persons (except for the alchemists, who are fictitious) who lived there from the 16th century all the way to the 1950s; for example the household of the lane’s oldest citizens — the so called red shooters who would guard the castle gates, a goldsmith’s workshop, a pub, a herbalist’s house, the household of renowned Prague clairvoyant and fortune-teller Matylda Průšová, or of an amateur film historian, Mr. Kazda, who would hide copies of the contemporary Czech films against the Nazis. In other houses, there are little stores with hand-made souvenirs, such as wooden toys, marionettes, ceramics, tin figures, jewellery or books relating to the most famous citizen of this lane — Franz Kafka. There is a cylindrical White Tower at the Western end of the lane, the lower part of which was used as a dungeon, torture chamber and prison. For example, alchemist Edward Kelley was imprisoned here. The prison remained here until the mid-18th century. At the end of the Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička), there is a cannon tower named Daliborka, built in the slope above the Deer Moat (Jelení příkop) by Benedikt Ried in 1496. Originally, the tower was higher, but five storeys preserved until today. The top storey has no roof. There are four cells in the ample-vaulted basement, and a round opening in the floor leading to a dungeon, where the prisoners were sunk via a pulley. Dalibor of Kozojedy was the first prisoner in 1498, and the tower was named by him. He was imprisoned for accepting the serfs’ uprising in the neighbouring manor and for taking the rebels onto his premises. Legend says he learned to play violin to earn his living in the tower. Count František Antonín Sporck, popular arts patron, was another famous prisoner. In the tower’s basement, there is the round opening in the floor leading to the dungeon, and the pulley used for sinking the prisoners can also be seen here. The walls of the dungeon are 2.6 m wide, and there is one more storey below the dungeon, which was used as yet another prison. After 1781, Daliborka was no longer used as a prison. Prague Castle has been a National Cultural Monument since 1962.