The narrowest street in Prague. Vinarna devil - the narrowest street in Prague with a traffic light

Prague is famous for many historical monuments and modern art, but tourists also have a special interest in one street. Vinarna devil is the narrowest street in Prague. It has become the most famous in the Czech Republic and is located near the museum famous writer Franz Kafka and Charles Bridge, so it will not be difficult to find. The width of the street is 70 cm and only one person can pass through. To avoid a collision, the owner of the restaurant, to which the street leads, installed traffic lights. The street itself is located between two houses, which are made in the Gothic style. You can go down the steps to the famous Chertovka restaurant, there are many swans and other birds, as well as a breathtaking view of the city. And it is precisely because of this restaurant, and earlier the winery, that it received the name “Street of one person”.

It is always crowded here, tourists come here to see the most famous street in Prague. Here you can feel like a real Praguer and go down to the restaurant and the river, as well as enjoy the nature of Prague.

The narrowest street in Prague is an example of a successful marketing ploy. The street is not indicated on the map of the city and it does not have an official name, but the locals are well aware of this place and many tourists come here on purpose.

It was originally a fire passage that was created to prevent the spread of fire. In the history of the Czech Republic there is a lot of historical information that Prague was on fire. The street was named after the Chertovka winery, to which steps led. When visitors returned home, they would definitely pass through this passage. So that new customers can easily find the winery, the owner put up a sign. So over time, the passage got its name and became the most narrow street in Prague.

The traffic light was not installed by chance. Slightly drunk visitors in this passage often collided and conflicts arose because of this. In order to somehow resolve this situation, the owner of the restaurant was given an ultimatum. If the owner does not install a traffic light, he will not be able to continue the business.

To pass between the houses, you need to press the button on the traffic light. When the green light turns on, the passage is allowed. There will be a red light on the other side, so the person on that side will let someone who is already walking through and there will be no traffic jam.

Now food and wine are also served here, but now Chertovka is not a winery, but small restaurant at the confluence of two rivers. All guidebooks mention this street and the restaurant, so the place is especially popular among tourists. The summer terrace of the restaurant is located near the water itself. Visitors can not only enjoy local cuisine And good wines but also the picturesque nature of this place. It is not necessary to visit the restaurant, because you can just enjoy the nature of Prague, the view of the Charles Bridge and the Vltava River.

View from the terrace of the Chertovka restaurant in Prague

Many legends are associated with the narrowest street in Prague. For example, there is a legend about the woman Alois and "the house of 7 devils." The legend says that the name of the street comes from the name of the river. The Vltava has long been called Devil's. Here women washed clothes on the stones. But there were not the most pleasant rumors about one woman. Locals said that Aloisa lived in the house "At 7 Devils". The woman was distinguished by her character and was very conflicted, so she was often compared to the devil.

This is just a legend, but a woman really lived in the house, a life shrouded in mystery.

Where is Vinarna Chertovka street located?

The street can be found between houses 100/24 ​​and 101/26 (U lužického semináře) near the Čertovka restaurant. There is no official name, but the locals call it Vinarna Devil.

The Chertovka River in Prague is a romantic place. A small branch of water separates from the Vltava in the center of Prague and attracts with Venetian-like views, as well as an old mill wheel and a funny sculpture on the bridge next to it.

In the old days, nine mills worked on Chertovka! Now two mill wheels have been preserved so that the inhabitants of Prague and tourists have an idea of ​​what useful functions the river has provided for centuries. A few years ago, a hero appeared at the wheel, who in the Czech Republic is called the waterman Kaburek.

History of the Devil and the Mill

The devil begins near the Legia bridge and stretches for about 740 meters, cutting off a narrow, elongated piece of land known as. The water branch passes under the Charles Bridge and rushes to the Vltava. It is believed that Chertovka is a canal dug by monks living on the banks of the river. Most likely, the need for such a channel was due to floods, which have always distinguished the wayward.

Already in the XIII century, the first mills were built on the river. The river was quite turbulent, and the power of the stream was enough to turn the wheels of nine flour mills. Currently, three former mills remain, which have long been converted into restaurants.

A large wooden wheel has survived only at two mills mlýn Huť and Velkopřevorský mlýn. This is near the second of them - the Velkoprshevorsky mill - a funny water Kaburek sits.

In 1890, the mill devices were badly damaged by a flood. The owners diligently restored production. But not water, but another element damaged the mills again: in 1938 there was a big fire. When the Velkoprzevorska mill was restored in the middle of the 20th century, it was already converted into a drying warehouse.

The mill wheel on Chertovka, which tourists stare at, has been restored several times. The current version is from the 70s. The wheel is 8 m in diameter and contains 36 blades. It rotates, since such a structure cannot remain in a static state, since under the influence of water the tree will simply collapse.

Water Kabourek

The sculpture of a merman is a modern decoration of the Devil. This mill wheel keeper was created several years ago by the Czech sculptor Josef Nálepa. The bronze figure of Kabourek with a lantern on his forehead, according to the author, personifies a kind man who loves beer and stares at beautiful girls)))

If you look at Kaburek from the bridge located next to the wheel, you can not help but notice his bulging eyes. Again, the author noted that this look is not evil, but is explained by the fact that Kaburek lives in water.

Devil Legends

Many are puzzled by the name of the river. There are several legends why the Vltava branch was called Devil's. It should be noted that this name appeared not so long ago, if correlated with the history of the water channel. In relation to the Chertovka River, it has been mentioned since the end of the 19th century.

The most famous of the legends is associated with the image of an insidious laundress who allegedly lived in a house on the banks of a stream. Her grumpy temper led a company of young people to decorate the walls of her house with seven devils. Neighbors immediately dubbed the woman and her house the Devil. Yes, this nickname took root so much that the rivulet soon began to be called in the same way.

Another legend tries to draw attention directly to the nature of the river. The water, falling into a narrow channel from the Vltava, seethed and rushed so that people involuntarily cried out: “Devil!” Who knows what the current was in those ancient times, but now Chertovka is almost an idyll, along which tourist boats float, then swans that live here all the time.

Do you know that in the capital of the Czech Republic there is a street that is only 70 cm wide? That's what they call her - the most narrow street Prague. If you are in Kampa, be sure to stop by, just remember to turn on the traffic lights.

There is a street in Prague where two people cannot walk at the same time. The width of the passage between the buildings is only 70 cm. Traffic lights are installed at both ends of the street - special, intended only for pedestrians. The street has no name, but it is called Vinarna Čertovka, after the restaurant at the other end. The narrowest street in Prague is located not far from and.

How did the street name come about?

Once it was not a street, but a fire passage that prevented the spread of fire. In the old days, Prague burned often, only in the 16th century the city suffered from two terrible fires. "Devil's" was the name of a winery located nearby. The people called the narrow passage "drunken lane" - the habitues of the winery left, holding hands on both of its walls. The owner of a liquor store placed a sign of his establishment above the entrance to the alley. So the new name gradually stuck to the street.

At first, there were no traffic lights. "Devil" arranged surprises for people - tipsy passers-by created traffic jams in the alley. The firefighters ordered the owner of the restaurant to install a traffic light, otherwise it was impossible to continue the business. After that, the street became an emergency exit from the institution in case of emergency.

You can now walk between the houses along Vinárna Čertovka only when the light is green. The walker presses the button before starting the movement - a red signal lights up on the opposite side. The unusual street is mentioned in all tourist guides, and the restaurant is popular, so there are a lot of people who want to take a walk here.

The legend of the river, Alois and "the house of the seven devils"

The name of the street, restaurant and hotel located in this house comes from the name of the river. The old woman of the Vltava, which separates the island of Kampa from, has long been called Devil's. Women came down the steps to the river to wash clothes. One of them was called Aloysia, she lived in the famous house "At the Seven Devils". The sullen lady had a grumpy disposition. They began to call her "the devil in a skirt", and then the river got its historical name.

In fact, the lonely Mrs. Aloisa really lived in the mansion "At the Seven Devils". For a long time mystical rumors were associated with this house - but this is a completely different story.

While in Prague, take the time to visit Vinárna Čertovka street. Press the traffic light button, enter the narrow passage and walk down the stairs, straight to the terrace famous restaurant. You will go to the bed of Chertovka, you will see charming pleasure boats and tourists who feed ducks and swans here.

How to find

Take tram 1, 12, 14, 15, 20, 22, 23, 97 to the Malostranské náměstí stop. There is a street near the Charles Bridge between houses 100/24 ​​and 101/26 along U lužického semináře street and leads to the restaurant Čertovka.

How can I save up to 20% on hotels?

Everything is very simple - look not only on booking.com. I prefer the RoomGuru search engine. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and 70 other booking sites.

There is a Venice. And it is located in the very center of the ancient city on the mysterious river with the cheerful name Devil. This is one of the most favorite places for tourists and locals.

Camp Island. He is the Venice of Prague. He is a park, he is a favorite place for lovers. The houses on the island are so close to the water that they are completely reflected in it. Therefore, a unique mirror effect is created.

The island of Kampa has its own ghosts. At night, drowned people come to the mill and the miller's daughter wanders around, looking for someone. The water Kabourek also appears in a wet green coat and a hat hung with seaweed. He likes to visit the pub "At the Golden Scissors": the music is quieter there than in other places.

Kampa got its name from the Spanish soldiers who camped on it after the defeat of the Czechs in the battle of the White Mountain. And by the way, the Italian legions could also call him.

The island itself originated in the 15th century and until the middle of the 16th was covered with orchards and vineyards. And after the grandiose fire of 1541, when almost all of Prague burned out, the remains of burnt houses were brought here. The island was fortified, its surface leveled out due to the burnt boards, and the fire-fighted citizens of Prague were able to build houses here. In modern terms, it was a venture project :-) And wealthy people were afraid to invest in it, the island could go under water. Therefore, artisans settled on the new land, who had nothing to lose :-) A quarter with a miniature trading area appeared on the island. And it still exists! And since the island turned out to be a artisan, it was on it that, starting from the 17th century, pottery fairs were held. Craftsmen came from all over the kingdom!

The island of Campa lies between the Bridge of the Legions and the Bridge of Manes. This is the place these days. where you can spend a lot of money expensive restaurants, hotels , shops . In addition to modern riches, the embassies of Malta, France, Estonia and other states were placed on the island. And for the balance of high and earthly, they built the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary under the Chain belonging to the Knights of the Order of Malta

The history of the “House of Anna” is connected with the flood of 1892, when Anna saved the icon of the Mother of God floating by from the water, and soon the water subsided. Anna hung the icon over the balcony and lit the inextinguishable lamp, which still glows to this day. True, the burning oil is now replaced by an electric light bulb.

There is also a unique street on Kampa. Almost like in Paris. It is so narrow that two people cannot pass through it at once! For her sake, even a traffic light was put up, can you imagine? To avoid "traffic jams" at the "entrance" and "exit". Somehow unusual. traffic jams are usually formed by cars, but here there are only two people :-) On Kampa, by the way, there is the Lennon Wall. When the musician was killed in 1980, his Prague fans began to paint his portraits on an ordinary wall, write couplets of his songs and write their own poems dedicated to John. It turned out to be a handmade monument. Only the authorities did not think this idea was successful and they ordered everything to be whitewashed. And then the French ambassador stood up in defense of the Wall. Santa Barbara, right? I told you that there is a French embassy on the island. So he worked in a building near this place. A former admirer of the musician, he turned to the then government with a request not to touch anything and promised to take the wall under his own supervision. Thanks to him, the Wall still exists.

From the Lesser Country Kampa is separated by one of the branches of the Vltava with the name Devil. This river is interesting because the houses along its edges go straight into the river with their walls, just like in Amsterdam or Venice.

On Kampa there is a restaurant "At the Charles Bridge", where Vladimir Putin drank beer with the President of the Czech Republic. Putin tasted local sausages, shook hands with visitors and left his autograph for the host.

One urban legend is associated with the river. She got her infernal name from a certain washerwoman Aloisia Nemtsova, who lived on Maltezskaya Square in house number 476 and came daily to wash clothes on the river. The woman had a very bad character, which quarreled with many neighbors and residents of the island, for which Aloysia herself was called the devil, the house in which she lived was called the house "At the Three Devils", and the river - the Devil. It should be noted that the Praguers began to settle on Kampe only in the 16th century after a big fire, as a result of which most of buildings in Prague burned down. However, wealthy Praguers were in no hurry to build their palaces in this place, fearing that the island might someday go under water. Craftsmen lived here mainly. There are several legends about the origin of such a cheerful name of the river.

According to one version, a long time ago, back in the time of Rudolph II, when the water in this river was clean and transparent, the washerwomen who lived nearby washed the royal linen here. One of them was very angry and quarrelsome. She constantly quarreled with neighbors, provoked fights and scandals. They called her Devil. She liked this name and asked the artist to paint her hut with seven devils. He complied with the request, but depicted only six tailed figures, and she herself was to become the seventh. After her death, the seventh imp was still missing and they named the river where the evil woman washed clothes all her life.

But most likely the name came from a miller who lived in the house "At the Seven Devils" and had communication with evil spirits :-) And why not? There were actually several mills at this place. Now, however, only one wheel remains of them, built somewhere at the end of the 16th century and operated until 1936. They knew how to build before! Water marks are now being made near it. And the 2002 flood broke all records

In the 16th century, Kampa was a district of mills and gardens; residential buildings appeared here later. Here lived the architects Kilian Dientzenhofer and Josef Zitek, the linguist Josef Dobrovsky, the poet Vladimir Golan, the father of Czech animation Jiri Trnka. Many of them are reminded by monuments on the lawns of the local park.

And the first mills were built in the XII century by the monks of the monastery of the Order of the Yukhanites in honor of Johann of Jerusalem. God's people looked after the bridge (still Yuditin's), put it in order, repaired it and took a toll for use. By the way, Tsvetaeva loved to walk near this bridge

Well, here it is. These monks dug a two-meter-long canal for their own needs, which later turned into a branch of the Vltava, and now called the Devil.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Prague was rapidly building, dilapidated wooden houses were replaced by stone buildings. German merchant Kraftman from Mala Strana decided to build a house on Cihelna street. He came to the burgomaster Karl Krueger for permission.

The burgomaster, an all-powerful and courageous handsome man, had a secret lover named Ellie, who lived in a house on the banks of the canal (or branches of the Vltava River) not far from Charles Bridge, next to the place where the merchant was going to build a house.

The burgomaster looked at the plan and saw that this house would block the road to his beloved and it would be impossible to secretly enter her house, since he would have to make a long detour past residential buildings and trading shops along the river. And the burgomaster demanded that the merchant build a house at a distance of 0.6-0.7 m from the wall of the neighboring house. Why and to whom this passage is needed, the burgomaster did not begin to explain. Residents of the nearest houses were extremely surprised by the requirement to leave the passage, because each house had two exits: one to the city street, and the other to the embankment. Before, houses were always built close to each other - it was cheaper and stronger that way. But an order is an order. When the construction was over, the residents of neighboring houses, which were separated by a strange narrow passage, decided to find out who needed this street. To their great delight, they found out that this person was the mayor Karl Kruger himself, of course, they also learned about his secret beloved Ellie.

The inhabitants of the houses were not offended by the burgomaster, but the young beauty, the daughter of a fisherman, was nicknamed Devil. Soon the rumor about lovers and a narrow street for secret rendezvous spread throughout the city. Many years have passed since then, the name of both the burgomaster and his mistresses have been forgotten, but the name Chertovka has forever remained behind this place in Prague.