The Haunting Mystery of 24 October and Czech Crown of St. Wenceslas

On 24 October 2026, after finishing my Operation Anthropoid tour at the Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Resslova Street, I went for a walk along the Vltava River and took a few photographs of Prague Castle. Even after almost twenty years of guiding in Prague, I never get tired of that magnificent view, particularly in autumn, when the Gothic towers of St. Vitus Cathedral rise above the rooftops of Malá Strana.

Looking towards the cathedral reminded me of one of Prague Castle’s most intriguing legends, involving Reinhard Heydrich, the Crown of St. Wenceslas and an old warning that anyone who wears the crown without the right to do so will die within a year. With Samhain and Halloween approaching, it seemed like the perfect time to revisit the story, especially since 24 October connects three remarkable historical events, each with its own rather unsettling significance.

I’ve been fascinated by Prague’s darker history since I began working as a licensed guide in 2007, but sometimes the strangest stories aren’t the ones involving ghosts. They’re the ones where the dates, people and places are real, yet the coincidences seem almost too extraordinary to believe.

Did Reinhard Heydrich Dare to Wear the Crown of St. Wenceslas?

The Crown of St. Wenceslas (Svatováclavská koruna), commissioned by Charles IV for his coronation as King of Bohemia in 1347, is one of the most treasured symbols of Czech statehood. Made from gold and decorated with precious gemstones and pearls, it was dedicated to St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech lands, and traditionally belonged to him rather than to any individual monarch.

According to an old Czech legend, placing the crown on the head of someone not entitled to wear it brings death within twelve months. The origins of this supposed curse remain uncertain, but the story has survived for generations and became particularly famous during the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia.

On 19 November 1941, Reinhard Heydrich, the Nazi Acting Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia, inspected the Czech Crown Jewels at Prague Castle alongside President Emil Hácha and senior German officials. Historical photographs of the occasion survive, and official records confirm that Heydrich gained possession of all seven keys to the Crown Chamber, an unmistakable demonstration of Nazi power over one of the most important symbols of Czech sovereignty.

But did Heydrich actually dare to place the crown on his head? Some versions of the legend claim he did, while others suggest he even placed it on his young son Klaus. There is no reliable historical evidence confirming either story, although Heydrich’s arrogance and contempt for Czech sovereignty have undoubtedly helped keep the rumour alive.

Less than seven months after inspecting the jewels, Heydrich died on 4 June 1942 from injuries sustained during Operation Anthropoid, carried out by Czechoslovak parachutists Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš on 27 May 1942.

Was it the curse? History gives us a very real explanation for his death, and the courage of the Czechoslovak resistance needs no supernatural assistance. Nevertheless, the timing added another chapter to one of Prague Castle’s most haunting legends.

And the strangest coincidences were still to come.

24 October 1942, 1943 and 1945: Three Dates That Still Give Me Chills

On 24 October 1942, the Nazis murdered 262 Czechoslovak resistance supporters and relatives at Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria. Many had helped the parachutists involved in Operation Anthropoid, including fourteen-year-old Jindřiška Nováková, who had assisted Jan Kubiš after the attack on Heydrich. Entire families were destroyed for providing shelter, food and support to the resistance, making this one of the darkest chapters in the history of Operation Anthropoid.

I visited Mauthausen on 24 October 2022, exactly eighty years after these executions, and standing in the place where so many courageous people lost their lives was an experience I will never forget. Their stories deserve to be remembered far beyond the anniversary itself.

You can read more about that visit and the victims in my article Mauthausen Concentration Camp and the 24 October 1942 Executions.

Exactly one year later, on 24 October 1943, Heydrich’s ten-year-old son Klaus died after being struck by a truck while riding his bicycle near the family’s residence in Panenské Břežany. It was a tragic accident involving a child who bore no responsibility for his father’s crimes, yet the coincidence with the Mauthausen anniversary is difficult to overlook, particularly when viewed alongside the old legend of the Crown of St. Wenceslas.

Then comes the third date, which I find particularly fascinating.

On 24 October 1945, the Czech Crown Jewels, which had been concealed beneath Prague Castle during the final years of the Second World War, were ceremonially brought out of their hiding place and examined in the presence of President Edvard Beneš. The very treasures that Heydrich had once controlled during the Nazi occupation had survived and were returning to public view in liberated Czechoslovakia.

Think about that for a moment. In November 1941, Heydrich had gained control of all seven keys to the Crown Chamber, a symbolic act of domination over the Czech nation. Four years later, the Crown Jewels were being brought back into the light in a free country, while the man who had once held those keys was long dead.

Three events, the same calendar date, in three different years.

Mauthausen, 24 October 1942. Klaus Heydrich, 24 October 1943. The return of the Crown Jewels, 24 October 1945.

Coincidence, fate or karma? I’ll leave that to your imagination. The events themselves are documented, and for me, that’s what makes the story so extraordinary, without needing to claim that any supernatural curse was involved.

Prague Castle After Dark: A Samhain and Halloween Challenge

Prague Castle has witnessed centuries of royal ceremonies, political intrigue, wars and occupations, while its ancient streets, Gothic buildings and hidden courtyards have inspired countless legends. The Crown of St. Wenceslas is only one of them, and with Halloween approaching, I’d like to challenge you to discover a few more.

I’ve recently shared my original evening walking route through Prague Castle and Hradčany, an area I’ve been exploring since the early days of my guiding career. It’s a completely free, self-guided walk featuring twelve historical stops, mysterious legends, atmospheric courtyards and some rather spooky corners of old Prague, including places that feel entirely different once the daytime crowds have disappeared.

Discover my FREE DIY Prague Castle After Dark Walking Tour

If you’re visiting Prague this Samhain or Halloween, take your camera, bring a friend and explore the route after dark. Stop outside St. Vitus Cathedral, wander through the old streets of Hradčany and imagine the generations of people who walked there before you, from medieval kings and alchemists to soldiers, prisoners and ordinary Prague residents.

And here’s my challenge: if you photograph any of the places mentioned in my walking guide, I’d love you to share your pictures with us on our Art of Your Travel or Prague Witch Tour Facebook pages. I’m also curious whether anyone has experienced anything they couldn’t quite explain during an evening walk around Prague Castle.

An unusual sound, a mysterious shadow, an unexpected encounter or simply an atmosphere that made you stop and look around? I’d genuinely enjoy hearing your stories.

Of course, not every strange noise is a ghost, and not every shadow has a mysterious explanation. Prague’s history is fascinating enough without inventing supernatural encounters, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a little mystery, especially at Halloween.

After all, some of Prague’s most haunting stories don’t need ghosts at all. History has already provided plenty of mysteries of its own.