If You Love the Renaissance Faire – You Need to Visit Prague

I love Prague and the Renaissance Faire, so it didn’t take long to notice that Old Town Prague is like a live-action Renaissance Faire. 

Find out why you should consider exploring an authentic medieval city to get a taste of the Renaissance!

A Blacksmith Displaying His Work

A blacksmith set up shop in Old Town Square. Like a Renaissance Faire, he forges his wares in front of a captive audience. He spends his days molding new trinkets out of hot metal. These trinkets are available for sale at the shop adjacent to his workspace. 

Trinket Stands

Town Square features a block of little wooden stands resembling a medieval market. Locals utilize these stands to sell a variety of trinkets, including homemade jewelry, hand-crafted woodwork, linens, and a variety of other items – including the blacksmith’s wares. 

The most significant difference between this setup and the Renaissance Faire’s merchant quarter is that the wooden structures, although tent-like, are much more permanent.

 Medieval-style Music Playing on Speakers in the Town Square

As you stroll through Old Town Square, you’ll hear the delightful harmonies of harp and flute dancing in the background. It’s similar to the soft background noise you’d hear throughout a Renaissance Faire. 

A Stage for Live Performances

A Renaissance Faire generally has numerous stages set up for the different shows and events that are going on, and Old Towne Square only had one, but the general idea was the same. 

During my first night on the Town Square, a group of children used the stage to perform the traditional dance. The second night was Saint Patrick’s Day, and an Irish Band was rocking the stage with some superb Ireland-inspired melodies.

Street Food and Street Drinks

It’s easy to find a stand that sells beer at a Renaissance Faire, part of the fun is walking through the fake town with a beer! Prague also has that, and they also sell hot wine to help warm you up on cool nights! 

There is also a variety of street food in the little stands, from sausages to roast pork to rolled pastries. As the mouthwatering aroma wafts through the streets, you realize a massive difference between Prague and the Renaissance Faire is food quality. In Prague, you’ll savor a delicious home-cooked feast rather than fried fair food featured at most Ren Faires. 

Quirky Tourist Attractions

Every Renaissance Faire I’ve ever been to has a medieval torture museum, and Prague is no different. They have two! One is by the Charles Bridge, and the other is right off of Old Town Square. 

Prague actually has a few other hokey tourist attractions as well, including a Ghosts and Legends museum and a Sex Machines museum (You won’t find that at a Renaissance Faire!)

Street Performers

Walking down the street in Prague, you will find numerous people dressed up as statues, playing fiddles, or doing some type of strange street performance. You will find similar performers at a Renaissance Faire.

The difference usually is that the street performers at a Renaissance Faire are part of the Faire and are either volunteering for fun or making money just by being there, whereas, in Prague, the performers are trying to make a living off the performances and have tip jars set up in front of them.

Petting Zoo

Old Town Square features a little stall with some small goats and sheep. They even have a pellet machine allowing tourists to feed the farm animals.  The animals head to a farm at night when the booths close at around 10 pm each evening.

Why Prague is Far Better than Any Faire

Although Prague lacks the quintessential Renaissance Faire joust and medieval costumes, the gorgeous city is far superior to any Faire.

Visitors can tour real medieval structures, marveling at the historical churches, impressive stained glass windows, and the historic Astronomical Clock. 

Those fascinated by medieval history can embark upon an underground tour, exploring 12th and 14th-century ruins preserved below the city streets. You won’t find that at a Renaissance Faire.