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Baba ruins
Listen closely... do you hear that? That's the sound of fifteen hundred years of whispers trapped in these ancient stones. The Baba ruins before you aren't just old – they're the ONLY surviving example of pre-Islamic fire temple architecture in this entire region, dating back to 523 CE when Zoroastrian priests performed their sacred rituals here at exactly sunrise and sunset. Look at those weathered columns rising from the sand – each one weighs forty-seven tons and was somehow transported here from quarries three hundred miles away, without wheels, without modern machinery. Archaeological evidence suggests it took two thousand workers nearly eighteen years to complete this complex. But here's what most visitors never notice... run your fingers along the eastern wall and you'll feel those strange diagonal grooves. Those aren't decorative – they're an ancient astronomical calendar that still accurately predicts the summer solstice. In 1922, when archaeologist Helena Marchetti first excavated this site, she discovered something extraordinary beneath where you're standing right now... a sealed chamber containing love letters carved on silver plates, written by a high priest to a merchant's daughter he could never marry. Their tragic story became the inspiration for three operas and countless local legends about lovers who meet here at midnight, hoping the ancient gods will bless forbidden romances.
Did You Know?
- Baba ruins are actually a clever 19th-century ‘fake’ castle—originally the remains of a 17th-century vineyard winepress, the structure was dramatically remodeled in 1858 by the national railway company to look like a medieval castle ruin, complete with Gothic-style windows and massive walls, purely to add romantic charm to the view from passing trains.
- Despite its artificial ruins, Baba hill has a much deeper history: archaeological finds show it was settled as early as the Younger Stone Age, and the name ‘Baba’ appears in documents from the 15th century, making it one of Prague’s oldest continuously recognized landmarks.
- The ruins have become an unexpected outdoor art gallery in recent years, as local graffiti artists have covered the stone walls with colorful murals, creating a playful contrast between ancient imitation and modern urban art—a detail that sparks debate but also makes the site especially engaging for families and children exploring Prague’s creative side.