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Offered languages
- German
- English
- Spanish
In 1713, the plague returned to Prague. Most doctors suddenly remembered urgent business elsewhere. Alexandr Schamsky, 28 and apparently missing that survival instinct, stayed — treated patients, documented the chaos, somehow lived to tell the tale.
Three centuries later, follow his exact footsteps with a guide in full plague doctor costume: beaked mask, hooded cloak, leather bag and all. In 90 minutes you'll hear five competing theories on what caused the plague, taste a (modern, harmless) anti-plague pill, smell historic lavender oil and pass one of Europe's oldest hospitals - emerging with nothing worse than a newfound suspicion of avocados.
Real history. Real character. Zero actual plague.
Featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Vogue and Forbes. Suitable for all ages.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Our meeting point is Seminářská 2, 110 00, Prague 1, directly next to the entrance of Hotel Aurus. You should be able to find us - we have a big bag and are dressed a bit differently than others :-)
Itinerary
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1
Meet your plague doctor outside the beautifully decorated House of the Golden Well, built in 1715 to celebrate the end of the plague. Make the acquaintance of Alexandr Schamsky, learn about the plague saints Sebastian and Rochus, and find out why three litres of garlic beer a day was considered solid medical advice.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Klementinum
Step into one of Prague's most atmospheric courtyards - just 20 metres from the tourist crowds but feeling like a different century entirely. Learn how the rich escaped the plague (they always do), how ordinary families were locked inside their own homes by armed night watchmen, and how Schamsky ended up becoming a doctor against all odds.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
Get acquainted with the two types of plague - bubonic and pneumonic - including symptoms, survival rates and the surprisingly avocado-like nature of a bubo. Meet the plague doctor's costume up close, including the famous beaked mask and its rather pungent air filtration system.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Old Town Square
Discover why the Jewish community of Prague fared significantly better during the plague - and what that tells us about hygiene, fresh water and the dangers of throwing garbage out of windows. Also a brief encounter with Kafka, who, like the plague, appears everywhere in Prague whether you want him to or not.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
Pass by the oldest active hospital in Europe and meet another forgotten hero: Celestine Opitz, the surgeon who performed the first successful surgery under full anaesthesia in 1847. The patient woke up, everyone celebrated, and then the patient died. But still - progress. Learn about the rat flea, Yersinia Pestis, and receive your anti-plague pill.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
6National Gallery Prague - Convent of St. Agnes
End your journey at the serene 13th century convent where Prague's very first plague cases were reported. Learn about alternative medieval medicine, why lavender kept the fleas away, and what ultimately happened to Alexandr Schamsky. The tour closes with a group photo and a poem - part medieval, part metal band, entirely unforgettable.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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