Faust House

An amalgamation of different architectural styles and connections to various legends, the mysterious Faust House was home to many eccentric individuals. On the site there was a significant road connecting the nearby Vyšehrad to Prague Castle. The house was built in the 14th century in the Gothic style but was rebuilt in the 16th century in the Renaissance style, but now lends its current appearance to its more recent Baroque reconstruction.

The Faust House, which sits on the corner of Charles Square, was initially owned by Prince Václav of Opava who had a great interest in alchemy and natural sciences. The following owners included the alchemist Mladota of Solopysk and Karl Jaenig, a man so obsessed with death that he had funeral objects scattered around the house.

The Faust House has been associated with dark history since the 17th century with the residence of infamous alchemist and charlatan, Edward Kelley. Kelley had promised Emperor Rudolph II that he knew how to convert ordinary metals to gold but was soon arrested due to unrelated reasons. Following his arrest, the emperor had him tortured for his knowledge of alchemy, but he never passed on his secrets.

The house didn’t get its name until the 19th century, when it was named after the legendary Dr. Faust, even though records indicate that he never visited Prague. Dr. Faust was best known for his pact with the devil in an effort to gain more scientific knowledge.

With homeowners’ experiments leaving holes throughout the house, and the links to alchemy and black magic, some believe that the house is cursed.

Today, the house is closed to the public and is part of the Faculty of Medicine of Charles University. Right next to the Faust House are some great local businesses, make sure to click on stop number 8 to learn more.