Prague Castle

Prague Castle (Pražský hrad, former Austrian: Prager Burg) is a castle in Prague where the Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here. Prague Castle is one of the biggest castles in the world (according to Guinness Book of Records the biggest ancient castle ) at about 570 meters in length and an average of about 130 meters wide.

History

The history of the castle stretches back to the 9th century (870). The first walled building was the church of Our Lady. The Basilica of Saint George and the Basilica of St. Vitus were founded in the first half of the 10th century. The first convent in Bohemia was founded in the castle, next to the church of St. George. A Romanesque palace was erected here during the 12th century. In the 14th century, under the reign of Charles IV the royal palace was rebuilt in Gothic style and the castle fortifications were strengthened. In place of rotunda and basilica of St. Vitus began building of a vast Gothic church, that have been completed almost six centuries later. During the Hussite Wars and the following decades the Castle was not inhabited. In 1485 King Ladislaus II Jagello begins to rebuild the castle. The massive Vladislav Hall (built by Benedikt Rejt) was added to the Royal Palace. Then were also built new defence towers on the northern side of the castle. A big fire of 1541 destroyed large parts of the castle. Under Habsburgs some new buildings in renaissance style appeared here. Ferdinand I built Belvedere, summer palace for his wife Anne. Rudolph II used Prague Castle as his main residence. He founded the northern wing of the palace, with the Spanish Hall, where his precious artistic collections were exhibited. Second Prague defenestration in 1618 began the Bohemian Revolt. During the subsequent wars the Castle was damaged and dilapidated. Many works from the collection of Rudolph II were looted by Swedes in 1648, in the course of the Thirty Years' War. The last major rebuilding of the castle was carried out by Queen Maria Theresa in the second half of the 18th century. Ferdinand V after abdication in 1848 chose Prague Castle as his home.

In 1918 the castle became the seat of the president of the new Czechoslovak Republic. The New Royal Palace and the gardens were renovated by Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. Renovations continued in 1936 under Plečnik's successor Pavel Janák.

During the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia during World War II, Prague Castle became the headquarters of Reinhard Heydrich, the "Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia". It is said that he placed the Bohemian crown on his head; old legends say that a usurper who places the crown on his head is doomed to die within a year. Less than a year after assuming power, Heydrich was assassinated.

After the liberation of Czechoslovakia, it housed the offices of the communist Czechoslovak government. During the Velvet Revolution, Alexander Dubček, the leader of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring, appeared on a balcony overlooking Wenceslas Square to hear throngs of protesters below shouting "Dubček to the castle!" As they pushed for him to take his seat as president of the country at Prague Castle, he embraced the crowd as a symbol of democratic freedom.

After Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the castle became the seat of the Head of State of the new Czech Republic. Similar to what Masaryk did with Plečnik, president Václav Havel commissionned Bořek Šípek to be the architect of post-communism Prague Castle's necessary improvements in particular of the facelift of the Castle's Gallery of paintings.

Architectural styles of Prague Castle

The castle buildings represent virtually every architectural style of the last millennium. The Prague Castle includes gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defense towers. Most of the castle areas are open to tourists. Nowadays, the castle houses several museums, including the National Gallery collection of Bohemian baroque and mannerism art, exhibition dedicated to Czech history, Toy Museum and the picture gallery of Prague Castle, based on the collection of Rudolph II. The Summer Shakespeare Festival regularly takes place in the courtyard of Burgrave Palace.

The neighbourhood around the Prague Castle is called Hradčany.

Churches

  • Katedrála svatého Víta, Václava a Vojtěcha (St. Vitus Cathedral)
  • Bazilika svatého Jiří (St. George's Basilica, Prague) and Klášter svatého Jiří (St. George's Convent, Prague)

Palaces

  • Starý královský palác (Old Royal Palace)
  • Letohrádek královny Anny (Belvedere or Royal Summer Palace)
  • Lobkovický palác (Lobkovicz Palace)
  • Nový královský palác (New Royal Palace)

Halls

  • Sloupová síň (Column Hall)
  • Španělský sál (Spanish Hall) and Rudolfova galerie (Rudolph's Gallery)
  • Vladislavský sál (Vladislav Hall)
  • Císařská konírna (Imperial Stables)

Other Buildings

  • Daliborka (Dalibor Tower)
  • Prašná věž or Mihulka (Powder Tower or Mihulka)
  • Zlatá ulička (Golden Lane)
  • Purkrabství (Supreme Burgrave's House)
  • Míčovna (Ball Game Hall)
  • Jízdárna Pražského hradu (Riding School)
  • Staré proboštství (Old Provost Residence)
  • New Provost Residence

Gardens

  • Královská zahrada (Royal Garden)
  • Zahrada Na terase Jízdárny (Riding School Terrace Garden)
  • Zahrada Na Baště (The Garden on the Bastion)
  • Jižní zahrady (South Gardens)
    • Rajská zahrada (Paradise Garden)
    • Zahrada Na Valech (Garden on the Ramparts)
    • Hartigovská zahrada (The Hartig Garden)
  • Jelení příkop (Deer Moat)

Notes

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Matthias
11 September 2015
There is a reason why this is a MUST-SEE in Prague. Not just the castle itself but the whole sureounding area is really nice with very neat green areas and great scenic views from the balcony. ????
Simple Discoveries
28 September 2016
Enter from the North side (see google maps) vice West and you'll face much shorter lines. Buy your tickets for Tour B a day ahead (250Kz), & then you can explore the grounds until the cathedral opens.
Artyom Fedosov
7 January 2017
Everything around is just fascinating. Must visit in Prague.
Khaled ☤
28 July 2015
Make sure you get yourself to the tower to get the best seats in the house for the city of Prague! It's a 5 minute walk up the spiral stairs to get there.
Nataša Pejić
9 May 2017
Stunning place, really, everything here is so beautiful. Nice panoramic view of the city. Be sure to check out the gardens and enjoy the sun. The St. Vitus Cathedral is definitely a must see.
Nm
17 September 2019
A must to visit while in Prague .. Go for STARBUCKS .. It’s one of the most beautiful branches in the world !!
Load more comments
foursquare.com

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Old Town Square Hotel & Residence

starting $356

Hotel Lippert

starting $141

Grand Hotel Praha

starting $302

Hotel Cerny Slon

starting $117

Dusni Apartments

starting $93

U T?í Bubn?

starting $107

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
St. Vitus Cathedral

Saint Vitus's Cathedral (Katedrála svatého Víta) is a Roman Ca

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Prague Castle View Point

Prague Castle View Point is a tourist attraction, one of the Scenic

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
St. George's Convent, Prague

The Convent of Saint George was a Benedictine convent located in the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Golden Lane

Golden Lane (in Czech Zlatá ulička) is a street situated at the P

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Charles University in Prague

Charles University in Prague (also simply Charles University; Czech:

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Wallenstein Palace

Wallenstein Palace (Czech: Valdštejnský palác) is a Baroque palace in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Wallensteinträdgården

Wallensteinträdgården är en barockträdgård vid Wall

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Loreta

Loreta is a large pilgrimage destination in Hradčany, a district of

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Bellevue Palace (Germany)

Schloss Bellevue is a château in the centre of Berlin. It is

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Élysée Palace

The Élysée Palace (French: Palais de l'Élysée) is the official res

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Casa Rosada

La Casa Rosada (Spanish for 'The Pink House'), officially known as the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rashtrapati Bhavan (Sanskrit for 'President House / Presidential

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Quirinal Palace

The Quirinal Palace (known in Italian as the Palazzo del Quirinale or

See all similar places