Prague: 5 Surprising Facts

Eiffel's little sibling: on top of Petřín Hill stands a tower that looks suspiciously like the Eiffel Tower – yet only about 60 meters tall. But thanks to its hilltop location, it reaches the same altitude above sea level as the Parisian original. Climb all 299 steps, and you'll be rewarded with one of the most beautiful views over Prague.

Give Peace a Chance: for Czech youth, John Lennon was a symbol of freedom. After his death in 1980, someone painted his portrait and lyrics promoting peace on a wall near Charles Bridge. Authorities tried to remove the graffiti, but it kept coming back – and growing. Today, the John Lennon Wall is not only a large street art canvas, but also a powerful icon of creative protest.

The robots are coming … from Prague. At least, that's where the word comes from. In 1920, Czech writer Karel Čapek published the play "R.U.R.," in which artificial humans are used as disposable workers – until they revolt. Čapek called them "robots," a term derived from the West Slavic word "robota," meaning forced labor. Spoiler alert: in the play, the robots wipe out humanity. In reality, the term "robot" went on to conquer the world as the name for machines designed to do our work for us.

Golden days ahead! Prague Castle isn't just a national symbol, it's a record holder: covering around 70,000 square meters, it's considered the largest ancient castle complex in the world. As you walk through the sprawling grounds, you'll pass the grand Gothic-style St. Vitus Cathedral, centuries-old palaces, and the Golden Lane – a tiny, colorful street where, according to legend, alchemists once tried to create the Philosopher's Stone to turn metal into gold. Another golden boy of the city once lived in house number 22: the writer Franz Kafka.

A sticky secret ingredient: legend has it that when the Charles Bridge was built in the 14th century, eggs were mixed into the mortar to strengthen the construction. Farmers from all over Bohemia brought eggs to the site; one village even sent boiled ones, hoping for extra durability. Whether or not the tale is true, the bridge has stood for over 650 years, surviving wars, floods, and the weight of millions of tourists.