The Mermaid of Karlova Street

In Karlova Street stands the house At the Stone Mermaid, and on its corner, beside number 12, a headless figure of a mermaid may still be seen; the neighbouring house, indeed, was itself called At the Siren in the eighteenth century. Klement of Weyrother relates that a living mermaid of rare beauty was exhibited here in a water tank. A young man of Prague fell in love with her and carried her off when she told him that her silvery tail was only there to deceive people. He took her to wife and years later returned with her to Prague — and the house has kept the name At the Mermaid ever since.