Kepler’s Passage

The name of the famous German astrologer is not only carried by the prestigious gymnasium in Hradčany but also by a passage connecting Karlova Street and Anenské náměstí (Anenské Square). The House U Francouzské koruny (At the French Crown), through which the passage leads, was built in the Gothic era, and its newest extension (on the side of Anenské náměstí) dates back to the time of Classicism. Johannes Kepler lived in this house from 1607 to 1612, as evidenced by the commemorative plaque on the facade facing Karlova Street. The local fountain depicting an armillary sphere, a historical astronomical instrument, also pays tribute to his work.