Mar 15 2009
Why is Prague called the Golden City?
Why is Prague called the Golden City?
From when I can remember, I know Prague with the nick name The Golden City, but where does this name come from? After a bit of internet research and some questioning of long time expats and locals, I found the following theories that try to explain the term “The Golden City”:
The Golden Lane, Prague Castle
The roofs of Prague
Because of the many gilded cupolas and roofs glow golden in the evening light. This is witnessed best from Prague Castle, where CharlesIV once lived and from where he ordered these embellishment of the city. This is the most likely of all these hypothesis. But also the others have their points and merits:
The goldsmiths of Prague
Because Prague is until today famous for its gold smiths and jewellery is still a souvenir that many tourists purchase. Many of the goldsmiths used to live in the Golden Lane in Prague Castle (see image). One of the stones used in the bohemian jewellery is garnet and the other is amber, also known as “the gold from the sea”.
The philosophers stone
Because Prague was a center of alchemy in the medieval ages, with many alchemists searching for the philosophers stone, capable to convert lead into gold and also to create the elixir of immortality.
Another nick name for Prague is The City of the Hundred Spires, similar to Oxford, where I lived for a short while that was called the City of the Dreaming Spires. Which nick name does your city have? And what is the origin of it?
Chicago is known as the Windy City: most people assume it’s because it’s by Lake Michigan and there’s all the lake effect wind… but turns out it’s actually referring to its long-winded politicians. More here.