Faust House
The Faust House, officially called the Mladota Palace, is a Baroque building situated on the southwest corner of Charles Square. The house was built in the 14th century in Gothic style, before the New Town district was founded. Originally, there used to be a pagan sacrifice site. Later, it became the seat of the Dukes of Opava, who guarded an important trade route between Vyšehrad and Prague Castle. The building gained its present appearance at the hands of architects František Maxmilian Kaňka and Anton Schmidt in the 18th century. There are many legends connected with the building, as it was owned by a number of alchemists throughout the centuries, for example by Edward Kelly. It probably gained its nickname, the Faust House, in the Romantic era when it was connected with the legend of Faust, who sold his soul to the Devil. However, it was never owned by anyone of the name Faust. At present, the building is used by the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University and there is also a pharmacy on the ground floor.
Useful information for visitors
Public transport connections
Karlovo náměstí bus stop, tram stop, metro station (yellow line)
U Nemocnice bus stop
Opening hours and admission
The interior of the Faust House is closed to the public. Visitors can admire the building from the outside.
Interesting facts about Faust House
According to historical sources, the Faust House was inhabited by a number of people who were involved in occult sciences. In the 16th century, Edward Kelly, Rudolf II’s court alchemist, had his laboratory in the house and carried out his experiments there. For example, he claimed that he was able to transmute lead into gold using the philosopher’s stone. Two centuries later, the building was bought by Mladota of Solopysk, a physicist and chemist. In the 20th century, the house became home to pastor Karel Jaenig, who was allegedly obsessed with death. In 1945, the building was damaged by an aerial bomb during the American bombing of Prague, but it did not burn down. Skeletons of seven cats and other objects, such as baby shoes, were founded in the walls of the Faust House.
