Dan Brown Unveils a Thriller Set in Prague

Magical Prague: From the Golem to Franz Kafka

Fans of Dan Brown’s acclaimed works, including The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, can anticipate a meticulously crafted, suspenseful narrative infused with intrigue and romance. The novel offers a unique opportunity to experience Prague through the eyes of one of fiction’s most celebrated professors, while also presenting a fresh view of the city’s wintertime, snow-dusted “City of a Hundred Spires.” Since the era of Emperor Rudolf II, Prague has long been celebrated as a place of magic and mystery. As Brown writes, “sensitive visitors can still sense this aura of the supernatural today.”



The protagonist of The Secret of Secrets, Harvard professor of religious iconology and symbology Robert Langdon, discovers Prague as a city of magic, “frozen in the stream of time,” boasting a distinctive fusion of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture. As the story unfolds, Brown guides readers through the enigmatic Jewish Quarter – Josefov – including the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest preserved synagogue in Central Europe, and the Old Jewish Cemetery. The narrative also brings to life the Prague-born writer Franz Kafka, author of The Metamorphosis, alongside the legendary Golem, which Brown reinterprets in a surprising and original manner.

Drama on Charles Bridge, the Most Romantic Bridge in the World

The story opens at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel on the banks of the Vltava River, where Robert Langdon resides in the Royal Suite. From there, he embarks on a morning run before visiting the Strahov swimming pool, evoking the atmosphere of an ancient temple. The hotel, situated in Prague’s historic centre, offers breathtaking views of the iconic Prague Castle – the largest castle complex in the world.



Brown also leads readers through the monumental Vladislav Hall, once the setting for knightly tournaments and now a ceremonial space where, from 18 to 29 September 2025, the Czech Crown Jewels will be displayed. The majestic St Vitus Cathedral is another focal point, with Langdon particularly enthralled by its 100-metre-high bell tower and the 17-tonne Zikmund bell, one of the largest in Europe.

©David Jurion

Just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel, Langdon – and the reader – arrive at Charles Bridge. Spanning the Vltava River, the bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks in Prague and serves as the backdrop for a pivotal scene in The Secret of Secrets. Against a snowy, gas-lamp-lit atmosphere, the scene sparks a chain of dramatic events involving several new characters –including Langdon’s partner, Katherine Solomon, a scientist specialising in noetics, the study of human consciousness. The powers of the human mind emerge as a central theme throughout the story.

Into the Klementinum Where Einstein Once Lectured

Brown guides his protagonists through central Prague, taking readers to iconic Old Town Square. Dominated by the Old Town Hall and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the square also features the Baroque St Nicholas Church and, of course, the famous Astronomical Clock.

Readers are then led to one of the world’s most stunning libraries, the Klementinum, complete with its famed Astronomical Tower. The library has hosted many historical figures, including lectures by the brilliant Albert Einstein and concerts by the celebrated composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Additional Prague Highlights Featured in the Story

• Týn Literary Café, a favourite haunt of intellectuals and writers

• Black Angel’s Bar, acclaimed as one of the world’s finest hotel bars

• Havelské tržiště (Havel Market), with traditions dating back to 1232

• Dancing House, a modern architectural masterpiece by Frank Gehry

• Church of Our Lady Victorious, home to the world-renowned Infant Jesus of Prague

• Žofín Palace on Slovanský Island, a striking neo-Renaissance landmark

• Prague’s Bubeneč district, noted for its grand villas

Secret Forces Beneath Prague

Another pivotal scene takes place at the Petřín Lookout Tower, close to the Strahov Monastery with its renowned Strahov Library and gallery, which houses one of Central Europe’s most important collections. At the foot of Petřín Hill, a favourite meeting place for couples throughout the year, stands the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, which Langdon describes as “the most moving work of art in Europe.”

The heart of Brown’s story, however, unfolds between the Bastion U Božích muk (the Crucifix Bastion) – a remnant of Baroque fortifications built atop original Gothic walls – and The Folimanka Civil Protection Shelter (in Folimanka Park) beneath the Nusle Bridge. Here, Robert Langdon and Katherine Solomon uncover, in a secret laboratory, a discovery with the potential to fundamentally transform humanity’s understanding of the mind.

Brown also explores Prague's culinary scene, with Katherine enjoying local specialties such as tlačenka, a traditional and "surprisingly good" meat terrine, and Kofola, a popular Czech cola.

Real Life Prague Locations: Other Attractions Highlighted in the Novel

• John Lennon Wall: a vibrant wall covered in graffiti and murals inspired by John Lennon and the idea of freedom

• Umbrella Sculptures: An Installation in Prague District 1: Figures with open umbrellas hang from façades and lampposts as part of an art installation.

• Bronze Franz Kafka Sculpture: a surrealist sculpture situated on the border of the Old Town and Josefov

• Alchymist Hotel: a luxury hotel set within a Baroque palace in Malá Strana

• Dripstone Wall: a fantastical stone wall located in the gardens of Wallenstein Palace

• Signal Festival: the annual light festival held each October in Prague

• U.S. Ambassador’s Residence (Petschek Villa): a monumental 1920s villa, now home to the American ambassador

• U.S. Embassy in the Schönborn Palace: a Baroque palace in Malá Strana housing the U.S. Embassy

Dan Brown: My Book is a Love Letter to Prague

Dan Brown, a true literary rock star, arrived in Prague to present his new novel The Secret of Secrets. He described the book as a heartfelt love letter to the Czech capital, where Prague itself steps into the spotlight as the story’s most enchanting character.

Your book The Secret of Secrets invites readers to Prague. What other places in the Czech Republic would you recommend?

Kutná Hora with its cathedral, and also parts of Moravia, which are spectacular. In the novel, the US ambassador even makes a trip into the wild where they filmed Narnia. I have many things left to see in the Czech Republic. I want to come back under the radar and make a tour of all the places I missed.

Why did you choose Prague for a novel about human consciousness?

Ever since I knew I wanted to write about human consciousness, I knew it had to be Prague. I have loved the city for many years. Prague has been the mystical capital of Europe since the days of Rudolf II. At that time, Kabbalists, alchemists, and magicians came here to communicate with the otherworldly. Since then, something magical has lingered. You can feel it when you walk across Charles Bridge at night.

You did deep research about Prague. What surprised you the most?

This is a city full of secrets, and many of them are in the novel. There is also one location in Prague that I found architecturally astonishing: the old sewage system beneath Old Town Square. It is quite an adventure, and the structure is fascinating.
 
The book features many different places to visit: such as the Petřín Tower and the Mirror Maze. And the Klementinum is one of the most beautiful – perhaps the most beautiful – rooms I have ever seen. Everybody who has not visited the Baroque Library should do so. It is absolutely spectacular. For me, one of the most fascinating places.

How many times have you been to Prague?

I was told I have been here seven times. I explored Prague in depth. I was also here as a kid, one of those American tourists with a backpack, walking around the city on five dollars a day. I fell in love with Prague then. It is astonishing, especially for someone from the US, because the history of Prague is so different. It is amazing to see what exists here and how beautifully the culture has survived. I am very happy to have worked on that.

Your novel also mentions Czech food. What have you tried?

I have tried many dishes. I liked some more than others. Tlačenka (meat jelly) I didn’t love, but it was definitely a cultural experience. Many other things, some of which I cannot even pronounce, were absolutely delicious.

Discover Prague for yourself

Dan Brown's The Secret of Secrets is a gripping novel that will inspire readers to explore the ancient streets of Prague and discover locations cherished by lovers, travellers, filmmakers, and writers alike.