Daliborka
3.5
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Neighbourhood: Hradcany & Letna
Your experience in Prague will never be complete if you do not see it from the top. Hillsides, stretched from the west to the north, provide spectacular views of greenish copper cupolas, narrow cobblestone streets, bridges connecting both river banks and green gardens from red-roof tops of centuries-old houses. Prague pulls you into its 1300 year old history. Walking up the hill or stairs to Prague Castle, the historical seat of Czech rulers and the majestic Saint Vitus Cathedral can leave you speechless (and out of breath). Luckily, plenty of terrace cafés overlooking gardens and beautiful parks are available to provide rest and a place to catch your breath again.
How to get there
- Lesser • 7 min walk
- Hradčanská • 8 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
85 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
34
Average
32
Poor
6
Terrible
1
zuv
Bucharest, Romania37,326 contributions
Aug 2021
A round tower, located at one side of Prague Castle, at the end of Golden Lane. It was used as a dungeon. There are not many to see, just a few instruments of torture. In 20 minutes you saw everything.
Written September 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK186,657 contributions
Oct 2019
The Daliborka tower is the prison/place of torture (was there a difference then), of Prague Castle, back in the day. Not it houses prison/torture exhibits on two levels. There's not much on show. there's a single board describing the use of Daliborka tower, plus labels for many of the exhibits.
Entry is basically free. Not much to see really, but it's kind of entertaining trying to navigate the tower as it's not been modernised. The building and stairwells are old.
Entry is basically free. Not much to see really, but it's kind of entertaining trying to navigate the tower as it's not been modernised. The building and stairwells are old.
Written October 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DSC-NOVA
Fairfax, VA2,912 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
To us, Prague lost many chances to educate visitors throughout the Prague Castle complex, but no more so than at this spot. With little signage to bring the torture devices into focus, Daliborka Tower has been reduces to a curiosity as people pause a few minutes before leaving the Palace.
Built in 1496, the tower served as a prison until 1781. It was named after Dalibor of Kozojedy (though you wouldn’t know it from anything posted on site), who is reputed to have been the first inmate. The story goes that a fellow Czech aristocrat released his serfs (under pressure) and these serfs found shelter on Dalibor’s estate. For the crime of harboring fugitives, Dalibor was sentenced to death by decapitation.
An associated story asserts that Dalibor learned to play the violin while imprisoned and the sound of his music wafted over Prague, constantly reminding the citizens that this young knight had been falsely condemned to death—so powerful was Dalibor’s hold on people’s imagination that the authorities refused to announce when the death sentence would be carried out to avoid public outrage.
Contrary (and perhaps more honestly), the ‘violin’ was also a medieval torture device built roughly in the shape of a violin; the ‘music’ it produced was the cries of its victim. Which story about Dalibor is true is unknown, but Daliborka Tower makes no effort to put the question out there.
What you also won’t learn at the tower is that the story lives on in Bedřich Smetana’s opera, ‘Dalibor,’ considered to be one of the Czech composer’s most important works.
Sadly, none of this is told at in the Daliborka Tower. There is a decaying statue of Dalibor, kneeling as he prepares for death; there are several nasty torture devices on display, a couple of skeletons with strange chicken feet, the cage / pulley system which lowered prisoners into the dungeon, where they died…history is on display here but never comes alive.
Built in 1496, the tower served as a prison until 1781. It was named after Dalibor of Kozojedy (though you wouldn’t know it from anything posted on site), who is reputed to have been the first inmate. The story goes that a fellow Czech aristocrat released his serfs (under pressure) and these serfs found shelter on Dalibor’s estate. For the crime of harboring fugitives, Dalibor was sentenced to death by decapitation.
An associated story asserts that Dalibor learned to play the violin while imprisoned and the sound of his music wafted over Prague, constantly reminding the citizens that this young knight had been falsely condemned to death—so powerful was Dalibor’s hold on people’s imagination that the authorities refused to announce when the death sentence would be carried out to avoid public outrage.
Contrary (and perhaps more honestly), the ‘violin’ was also a medieval torture device built roughly in the shape of a violin; the ‘music’ it produced was the cries of its victim. Which story about Dalibor is true is unknown, but Daliborka Tower makes no effort to put the question out there.
What you also won’t learn at the tower is that the story lives on in Bedřich Smetana’s opera, ‘Dalibor,’ considered to be one of the Czech composer’s most important works.
Sadly, none of this is told at in the Daliborka Tower. There is a decaying statue of Dalibor, kneeling as he prepares for death; there are several nasty torture devices on display, a couple of skeletons with strange chicken feet, the cage / pulley system which lowered prisoners into the dungeon, where they died…history is on display here but never comes alive.
Written July 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gaetano A
Malton, UK703 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
While we were at the Prague Castle we passed through the Golden Lane and down the lane we found this Daliborka Tower. It was a famous prison which was used until the end of the 18th century. It was initially designated only for the nobility but later it held people from all sections. The first inmate was called Dalibor of Kozojedy, hence its name from this inmate. Dalibor was a young knight who was sentenced to death and imprisoned in the tower's dungeon. He used to steal the rich and give to the poor sort of " Robin Hood".
Written May 20, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grover R
Pensacola, FL22,266 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
Like all castles, there is always a dungeon for those who do not support the crown. Prague is no different. On the very eastern end away from the highest people, the castle host its Daliborka (dungeon). You can walk down and see the various methods for terror and detention. However, from here you are probably leaving and there are some great views of the city just outside the dungeon entrance. It does not take much time. Go see it and then go see the view of the city.
Written July 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
rosonen
Lappeenranta, Finland89 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
It's a prison and torture chamber. Not very much descriptions, bring a guide. Doesn't take long to walk through.
Written June 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TBMARE
Delray Beach, FL1,134 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
You only peek thru a gate and see one room. You enter nothing. We have Prague card so was free for us, but if you have to pay, do not pay.
Written June 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bas t
Brussels, Belgium1,994 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
this is a very short tour but i found it to be one of the better sites on the prague castle tout and come at the end of the visit hard to believe that we lived in a world that tortured people then and still now
Written February 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elena O
Kyiv, Ukraine784 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
Located at the end of Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička) Daliborka tower was a prison. One of it’s prisoners was knight Dalibork whose name gave a name to the tower. Present exhibition depicts prison life: tortures instruments, stone well where prisoners died of hunger and etc.
Written September 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Светлана А
Kursk, Russia249 contributions
Jan 2016
This tower was a prison and a place for torture. Here you can see instruments and human cages. The place is a bit scary and has a real historical atmosphere, so you can get vivid feelings and emotions. You can get here from Golden Lane with the same ticket. The place doesn't have additional ticket control.
Written January 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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