Text by MOOK Travel Life Network, compiled and reported by Li Xinyi | Source: Mook Editorial Department
Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was the most famous Czech writer, hailed as a pioneer of 20th-century existentialism. During his lifetime, he was just an obscure author. Although he started writing early, relatively few of his works were published before his death. His first work was published in 1907, followed by sporadic releases over the next 17 years. However, most of his works were published posthumously. Though not a prolific writer, he profoundly influenced later literature. Notable works include *America*, *The Metamorphosis*, *The Trial*, and *The Castle*.
Kafka had a very close connection to Prague, as he was born here and lived most of his life near the Old Town, only moving to Prague Castle during the war years. He rarely left his hometown and was eventually laid to rest in Prague’s Jewish Cemetery. Today, you can only step into his solitary world through certain sites.
Prague Castle has been the seat of Czech royalty since the 9th century. (Image credit: Mook Editorial Department)
1. Hotel Goldhammer
Located on the north side of Old Town Square, this building was the site of the first shop opened by Kafka’s father, Hermann Kafka, in 1882. That year, he had just married Kafka’s mother, Julie Löwy, and their son Franz was born a year later. The site is now Hotel Goldhammer.
This hotel was formerly the shop run by Kafka’s father. (Image credit: Mook Editorial Department)
2. The House of Kafka’s Birth
On July 3, 1883, Kafka was born on the second floor of this house at the junction of Prague’s Old Town and Jewish Quarter. A week later, his circumcision was performed here according to Jewish tradition. The building was constructed between 1717 and 1730, originally serving as the office for clergy of St. Nicholas Church. In 1787, under Emperor Joseph II’s decree to improve the Jewish Quarter, it was converted into residential housing.
The Kafka family did not live in this apartment for long, moving out the following May. The house was damaged by fire in 1887 and was rebuilt to its original design by 1902. In 1965, sculptor Karel Hládký created a bust of Kafka, embedded in the building’s corner, making it a pilgrimage site for fans. It also serves as the starting point for tours of the Jewish Quarter (Josefov). Today, the ground floor houses an art gallery named after Kafka.
Kafka’s birthplace, now home to a Kafka art exhibition on the ground floor. (Image credit: Mook Editorial Department)
3. House at the Sixt (Dům U Sixta)
This residential building on the south side of Old Town Square, known as House at the Sixt, was where the Kafka family lived between 1888 and 1889. The door bears the inscription “1796,” but the building actually dates back to around 1220.
4. House at the Minute (Dům U Minuty)
This building, adorned with intricate sgraffito decorations, was the Kafka family’s residence from 1889 to 1896. All three of Kafka’s sisters were born here and later perished in Nazi concentration camps. The name “House at the Minute” is intriguing, though its origin is unclear. The sgraffito on the walls, created around 1615, depicts scenes and legends from the Bible and classical mythology. Though monochromatic, the interplay of light and shadow brings the figures to vivid life. A corner of the building features a lion statue with outstretched claws, known as the White Lion (At the White Lion), added in 1712 by the pharmacist who then lived there. The White Lion Pharmacy operated for 130 years before closing, after which the building was taken over by a tobacco merchant, and later the Kafka family.
House at the Minute, the birthplace of Kafka’s three sisters. (Image credit: Mook Editorial Department)
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