Country Article / Postcards

The Rope-maker's Beautiful Wife

Date: 02/13/2005

Dear International Living Reader,
Last night I had dinner in central Prague at a restaurant called At the Rope-Maker's Wife's, or U Provaznice. It was recommended by a Czech exile living in Atlanta through her American realtor friend in Prague. Intrigued by the name, I read further and found a charming legend in the spirit of St. Valentine's Day...
Once upon a time, there lived in Prague, a woman of such beauty that all the men of the city longed to have her as their wife. The woman, however, had eyes only for her husband, the rope-maker, even though he was away for long periods of time.
Eventually, the beautiful wife became bored. She asked her husband if she could open her own bar. The rope-maker was delighted to help, and U Provaznice came into being. It was not long before the bar was full of the men of the city, eager to stay close to the woman of their dreams. As time passed, the rope-maker came to hear rumors that his wife was providing the men of Prague with more than just good food and fine beer.
Upon returning and discovering the rumors were true, he strangled his wife with one of his fine ropes.
Today, a noose hangs at the corner of the bar, and it is said that the premises are haunted by the rope-maker's wife, whose spirit is cursed never to rest in peace until she heals all the souls suffering for love.
The Valentine's Day promise is simple: Touch the portrait of the ill-fated wife hanging in the bar, and any problems in the love department will dissipate immediately. The proprietors claim 100% success. Come...try it for yourself. You'll find U Provaznice at Provaznicka 3, Prague 1.
Jocelyn Carnegie
For International Living