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Lovers of scenic tram travel in Prague have reason to celebrate—the city's transport authority (PID) has unveiled an ambitious new project: a tram line running directly through Prague Castle.
Of course, the announcement—complete with building permits and stop names—took social media by storm on April 1, making the idea of a tram clanging through Prague Castle’s cobbled courtyards and narrow lanes nothing more than a fleeting joke.
According to the fictional plan, the popular tram line No. 22 would be rerouted through the heart of the historic complex, making stops in previously inaccessible areas of Prague 1, including Hradčany Square.
A new tram stop, appropriately named Prague Castle (Pražský hrad), has even been proposed for the Castle’s Second Courtyard. The existing stop of the same name would be renamed Mariánské hradby. The new stops at Hradčanské náměstí and Loretánské náměstí will “significantly improve access to the Hradčany district.”
The post even teased a special addition for tram enthusiasts: For historic lines 23 and 42, additional stops inside the Castle grounds will include St. Vitus Cathedral and Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička).
Preservationists fear not, PID continued: “Although the new tram line has been designed with the utmost respect for the historical buildings, some buildings will still require minor alterations,” the transport authority joked, adding that the Prague Castle Administration and the President’s Office had shown “exceptionally friendly” cooperation.
The tongue-in-cheek announcement even included a timeline, claiming construction would begin in the summer of 2025 with a “delicate reconstruction” of Golden Lane and that the first trams would roll through the castle gates in time for the 110th anniversary of independent Czechoslovakia in 2028.
While the idea of a tram through Prague Castle may not become reality anytime soon, the prank showcased the city’s enthusiasm for its expanding tram network—and its sense of humor.
Yet another city-transport-related April Fool's prank included one from the Deputy Mayor for Transport, Zdeněk Hřib, who announced a design for new trams on the “Prague–Brno route.”
Hřib wrote on Instagram that the tram is “Currently named Prašalina and will offer premium services. In addition to an innovative information system based on a mechanism of glass marbles, passengers will also be served traditional trdelník with vanilla ice cream.”
Local restaurants also got in on the act: Prague gastropub Červený Jelen (in English, The Red Deer) announced on its social media that it would be making extreme changes to its outdoor terrace.
“You may have noticed some changes happening on our outdoor patio… and you’re right! As of April 1, it’s officially becoming a deer reserve. We’re now closer to nature than ever—no chairs, no tables, just moss, ferns, and freely roaming deer.”
