PRAGUE GUIDE

The House at the Two Golden Bears (Dům u Dvou Zlatých Medvědů) is an incredible Renaissance building situated at the corner of Melantrichova Street and Kozna Street in Prague's Old Town. The building was constructed in 1567 from two earlier houses. It is also one of the oldest houses in Prague. The house has beautiful Renaissance arcades dating from the 16th century and an ornate portal with reliefs of two bears by court architect Bonifaz Wohlmut.

It is said that the two bears, in the way they are depicted, symbolize the Great Bear and Little Bear constellations, or Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The knights each sit opposite a bear, holding a branch in what looks like a symmetrical formation. In fact, if you take a closer look you'll see that one of them is older and one is younger. The older one has a dried-out branch, and the younger one's is still green. Clearly this is saying something about the cycle of life. It's also long been said that since the time of the alchemists passageways have led from this building's basement to sites all over Prague, but this has never been proven.

Location: Kožná 1/475, Prague 1
Open: closed to the public