Prague’s Lesser Town boasts 70 historic house signs, which once served in place of numbers
In the winding streets of Prague’s Lesser Town visitors may notice dozens of historic buildings adorned by house signs – lions, golden goblets, violins, suns and many more. Many of these signs are older than the house numbers themselves and once served in their place.
Before Empress Maria Theresa introduced house numbering in the 18th century, the house signs in the Lesser Town below Prague Castle served a practical purpose: they helped people - and the postal service, which was already operating in the 16th century - to find the right address. The symbols often reflected the owner’s name, trade, guild, or aspirations. Back then the houses were referred to by their signs, for instance, the house at the Three Violins, at the Golden Goblet, at the Two Suns, or at the Green Crayfish. Jaroslava Nováková, a historical consultant for Prague City Tourism is an expert on house signs.
"There used to be many more house signs in Prague than you see today. That is because most of the signs we see nowadays date from after the devastating fire of 1541, which destroyed much of Prague’s Lesser Town. That is when most of these houses were rebuilt — many in Renaissance or later Baroque style. Most houses had signs at the time because the numbering of houses was only introduced -or rather, ordered - by Empress Maria Theresa.”
When people selected their house sign they were inspired by various things – be it their surname, their profession or the need to show their standing in society. Some signs, like lions or bears, were meant to project power. Others referenced professions or personal interests. Such as the house At the Three Violins.
“The man who lived here was a skilled lute and violin maker named Thomas Edlinger. But the beautiful house sign tells us more, that the house was home to several generations of violin makers. Edlinger trained his son, and he himself had taken over the workshop from another violin maker who had passed away. That is why one of the violins is actually turned around and is facing away from the viewer. This house sign is truly charming.”
Higher up the street, one comes across more fascinating signs: houses at the White Beet, the Green Crayfish, and the Red Lion. Jaroslava Nováková says there’s an interesting story linked to each house.
“Each of these houses is linked to the life and work of some notable figure. For example, the house at the Red Lion was home to the mother of the famous Baroque painter Petr Brandl. And one of the most beloved Czech actors, Josef Kemr, lived at the house at the White Beet.
Some house signs were selected in the hope that they would bring good fortune and help protect its inhabitants. Like the house at the Golden Horseshoe.
“The horseshoe itself is really very small here. And if you don’t know it’s there, you can easily miss it. It’s actually a house sign depicting St. Wenceslas on horseback and his white stallion has a lovely little golden horseshoe. There were many such house signs around Prague at the time - people loved to use them as symbols of protection and good fortune. And that’s exactly what the golden horseshoe in this sign was meant to express.”
When house numbers were introduced, the house signs lost their navigational purpose and became mere decorative relics and charming links to the past that fire the imagination. Local residents rarely notice them anymore, but tourists stop to take pictures and try to guess the given sign’s significance.
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