Number 22 along Golden Alley.

A view of Golden Alley.

Golden Alley, along one wall of the castle complex in Prague, began as the place where archers would be posted to defend the walls. Later, small — even TINY — houses were built alongside the wall to house the archers and musketeers on duty. Then, during the reign of Rudolph II, the alchemists supported by Rudolph were housed here as a curfew could be imposed and the gateways at each end of the alley locked. Thus, the alchemists could not escape in the night with the secrets of elemental transmutation and transformation they had discovered during the day. Hence, the name “Golden Alley” arose as a reference to the alchemists in pursuit of the great secrets of the elements.

Today, the tiny houses are used as gift shops. Number 22, a bookstore specializing in Kafka’s books, was used by the author as a study in which to do his writing.