Prague Castle

Prague Castle, collective name for an aggregation of palaces, churches, offices, fortifications, courtyards, and gardens in Prague, covering approximately 110 acres (45 hectares). The castle was formerly the seat of the kings of Bohemia and is currently the official residence of the president of the Czech Republic. It lies within the historic centre of Prague, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Prague Castle had its origins in the late 9th century, during the reign of Bořivoj, the first Christian prince of Bohemia. The church that became St. George’s Basilica was begun about 920; the basilica still stands as a monument of Romanesque architecture. The martyred Prince Wenceslas I (the “Good King Wenceslas” of the Christmas carol) was interred in 932 in the Church of St. Vitus, predecessor to a cathedral dedicated to the same saint. The foundation stone of St. Vitus Cathedral was laid on the Hradčany Hill in 1344 at the behest of Charles IV, the future king of Bohemia and Holy Roman emperor. The architect Petr Parléř gave the cathedral its late Gothic style, but construction was not completed until 1929. A cathedral vault safeguards the crown jewels of Bohemia, which are usually not on public display.

The Old Royal Palace was built in Romanesque stonework by Prince Soběslav in the 12th century to replace the original wooden palace buildings. It was enlarged by Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV and substantially rebuilt after 1483 by Vladislav II. Vladislav Hall (1493–1510) is a room within the Old Royal Palace that was designed by the architect Benedikt Ried. It shows both late Gothic and Renaissance architectural features. The council chamber was the staging area for the Defenestration of Prague (1618), a violent manifestation of Bohemian nationalism that was closely followed by the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48). The New Royal Palace, which gradually took shape in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, now houses Czech government offices. The Throne Room, the Spanish Hall, and other grand chambers host official ceremonies.

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Just north of the fortified section of the castle is Golden Lane, a street of small row houses originally built for royal alchemists and other castle servants. The writer Franz Kafka lived there from 1916 to 1917. Golden Lane is flanked by two round towers: Daliborka Tower (on the east side) and the New White Tower (on the west). Both were built in the 15th century and were notorious prisons. Farther north, beyond the Stag Moat (a ravine where deer were once kept), is the Royal Garden. Along its southern edge is the Ball Game Hall (1567–69), which was built as a gymnasium but is now used for exhibits and concerts. Nearby is the Summer Palace (1538–60; sometimes called the Belvedere or Queen Anna’s Summer Palace), which was also built in the Renaissance style.