Strolling through Old Prague in high heels is definitely a challenge. Prague locals are deeply attached to their distinctive mosaic cobblestones and wouldn’t replace them with smooth asphalt or concrete for the world. These pavements are a cherished part of the cultural heritage and a living phenomenon, celebrated for their playful artistry, craftsmanship and the care devoted to them by those who once tended to Prague’s streets. As you wander through Prague’s enchanting streets lined with stunning architecture and decorative house signs, take a moment to look down. The irregular, well-worn cobblestones indicate that beneath your feet lies the iconic, centuries-old paving that has borne the footsteps of prominent personalities like Kafka, Einstein and Rilke. These subtle limestone squares – each just 6 by 6 centimeters – distinguish Prague from any other city on the planet, even if the observer were shown a single photo of a random street. The city’s mosaic pavements create intricate patterns with poetic names like ‘frames and dragons’, ‘stars and crosses’ or the whimsical ‘seventy with a lady’. Prague’s streets were first paved with limestone and marble cubes two hundred years ago. As industry developed, increasingly more people moved to the city, and its dusty roads no longer met the needs of its residents. By 1879, Prague had adopted exclusively mosaic paving. Originally, these cobbles were split by hand, giving them irregular shapes ideal for creating an endless array of patterns, both straight and curved. Initially sourced from a limestone mine in Slivenec near Prague, the stones came in shades of pink and blue, with white patterns reserved for pavements in front of important buildings. Today, machines cut these stones, producing regular shapes that reduce the available range of patterns – cobblers can only create those that rely on right angles. The cobblestones now come from other quarries, as the one is Slivenec has ceased production and is now a protected nature reserve. The pink hues have become a rarity, and the sidewalks are primarily blue and white. The mosaic patterns follow a set of rules. One of the original principles was that the patterns varied in front of each building, reflecting the tastes of individual property owners who once maintained the sidewalks themselves. Around churches, you’ll notice cross patterns in the pavement – reminders of old discontinued cemeteries. The cobblestones of the roadways are no less fascinating. Larger, typically 10 by 16 centimeters, these quartzite blocks in soft shades ranging from pink to honey were once transported along the Vltava River from nearby Řevnice. This warm-toned quartzite, said to be the origin of the nickname ‘Golden Prague’, lends a dreamy, warm glow to the city’s ambiance. The stone had a tendency to break and wear down easily, and the cobbles became known by locals as ‘cat’s heads’ for their rounded corners. They were eventually replaced with harder blue granite from the Jeseníky mountains, which we still walk on today.