Prague Castle in Prague – history, photo, description, opening hours, ticket prices 2021, map
On the left bank of the Vltava River rises a powerful fortress called the Prague Castle. It is a major historical, political and cultural center of Prague. The Castle has long been a symbol of Czech statehood. It occupies a vast territory, the area of which is 45 hectares. The main fortress of the city forms an impressive complex of unique palace ensembles, structures, cathedrals and monasteries.
Story
In the 9th century, the first Czech ruler from the Přemyslid dynasty, Prince Bořivoj I, founded the Prague Castle. On a hill near the Vltava River, a wooden fortress was laid, which housed the residence of the monarch. The palace was framed by a deep moat and earthen fortifications. The prince and his wife Lyudmila were baptized according to the Orthodox rite by Bishop Methodius, who was one of the creators of Slavic writing. Borzhivoy I decided to build a church of the Virgin Mary near the castle, which became the first stone building in Prague Castle. The second shrine of the princely residence was the Basilica of St. George, founded in 920 by the son of the prince Vratislav I.
The reign of Vratislav I was very short, so the transformation of Prague Castle into a revered Christian place was continued by Prince Wenceslas. He began building the St. Vitus Rotunda. As a result of a conspiracy of nobles, the ruler was brutally killed. Soon Wenceslas was canonized and his image began to be installed on the altars of all the basilicas in Prague. At the end of the 10th century, the importance of Prague Castle increased.
In addition to the princely residence, the Czech bishop settled here. A period of long construction and expansion of the territory began. Instead of wooden buildings, limestone houses began to be built, and the area was fenced with high stone walls. In the following centuries, Prague Castle was destroyed and burned several times. Most of the buildings were demolished or required restoration.
The years of the reign of Emperor Charles IV were marked by significant changes in the appearance of Prague Castle. The completely rebuilt princely palace acquired a Gothic style. In place of the destroyed basilicas, new cathedrals were laid. The defensive wall along the entire perimeter of the fortress was reinforced with bastions with artillery towers.
In 1526, the Czech throne was taken by Ferdinand of Habsburg, who set the task for the architects to create a pompous Royal Castle. The medieval palace no longer corresponded to the new trends in architecture. Particular attention was paid to the arrangement of an extensive park and the expansion of existing buildings and basilicas. Despite the fact that the residence of the monarch finally moved to Vienna, construction in the Castle did not stop.
At the turn of the 16th-17th centuries, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Rudolf II, was engaged in the reconstruction of Prague Castle after a fire in 1541. He rebuilt all the objects in the architectural style of the Renaissance. The erected buildings changed their purpose and appearance. In the XVIII century, the Prussian army caused great damage to the Prague Castle during the Seven Years' War. Cathedrals and palaces were damaged. It took 25 years to restore the destroyed objects.
Empress Maria Theresa ordered to eliminate the mixture of different architectural trends of Prague Castle and create a single architectural style. After the fall of Austria-Hungary in 1918, Prague Castle received the first president of independent Czechoslovakia, Tomasz Mosarik. The Velvet Revolution of 1989 gave tourists and the general public access to the entire palace complex.
sights
Prague Castle consists of buildings and cathedrals, which are the architectural value of the Czech state. This unique monument of architecture and art has gone through all the changes of artistic eras, starting with the Romanesque style. Palaces, the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the Basilica of St. George, defensive tower structures rise on the territory. Prague Castle is considered the famous medieval castle ensemble in Europe.
Changing of the Guard
The main entrance to the Prague Castle sights is a wrought iron gate with a decorative grille. Here, on high pedestals, figures of battling titans rise. Near the striped guard boxes are two sentries, who are the guards of the presidential garrison of Prague Castle. The hourly ritual attracts the attention of curious tourists. Soldiers with excellent bearing, holding guns in their hands, immaculately minted a step during the changing of the guard.
Old Royal Palace
The Old Royal Palace, founded in the 9th century, was the residence of Czech rulers. Over the entire history of its existence, the building has been repeatedly rebuilt and expanded, so its internal and external appearance is very heterogeneous. Since the 16th century, the main state institutions have been located in the palace – the treasury, courts, the accounting chamber, the office, offices of officials and advisers. In the 19th century, the palace was in disrepair. After the First World War, when the new country of Czechoslovakia was formed, the first presidential elections were held in the palace. Since the 60s of the XX century, the Old Royal Castle has been open to visitors.
The palace impresses with its grandeur. The building consists of many buildings, rooms and corridors. The pearl of the palace is the Vladislav Hall, located on the ground floor. In this spacious room, an openwork Gothic ceiling stands out, consisting of a fan vault in the form of petal stars. The hall was intended for receiving guests and coronation celebrations. Now the presidents of the Czech Republic are sworn in in it.
The second floor of the castle is represented by halls where kings, bishops, parliament and judges sat. The walls of the premises are hung with portraits of nobles and emblems of the cities of the Holy Roman Empire. Here is the royal throne, surrounded by benches. In the palace you can see museum exhibits – jewelry, old manuscripts and carved furniture.
Basilica of St. George
One of the ancient shrines of Prague Castle is the Basilica of St. George. The first Czech rulers of the Přemyslids were baptized and buried there. The temple, erected by Prince Vratislav in 920, has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. In the 17th century, the basilica acquired a luxurious baroque appearance.
The brick-red and pale yellow facade of the church is decorated with massive pilasters, arched windows with bars and decorative elements imitating window openings. The building is crowned with two snow-white large towers. The triangular pediment is decorated with relief stucco – Saint George slaying the dragon. On the facade of the temple you can see two statues depicting Prince Vratislav and his granddaughter Mlada.
The church consists of three naves and the main apse, where stone sarcophagi with the remains of princes Vratislav and Boleslav are located. About 140 representatives of the Přemyslid dynasty are buried under the shrine. The interior of the basilica is decorated with arched passages and paintings on the vaults.
golden street
From the Cathedral of St. George begins a picturesque street with colorful two-story wooden houses. It arose in the second half of the 16th century as a result of the restructuring of the Prague Castle. This small quarter is called the Golden Lane, because jewelers, bell makers and chasers lived here. Later, archers began to settle on this street. Now in small houses there are souvenir shops and shops.
Powder Tower Mihulka
A four-story artillery tower rises in the northern part of Prague Castle. It is called Mihulka, because it looks similar to lamprey fish. The structure was built in the 15th century and has never been used for its intended purpose. For some time there was a prison in the tower, then a laboratory was equipped in it, where tests of nuclei and gunpowder were carried out. In the 20th century, the tower served as housing for the guards of the cathedral. Now the building houses a museum of military history.
St. Vitus Cathedral
In the center of Prague Castle is one of the most recognizable sights of the Czech capital – St. Vitus Cathedral. This greatest temple is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture in Eastern Europe. The cathedral was built intermittently for 585 years. In 929, on the site of a pagan temple, Prince Vladislav I built a rotunda, in which the remains of St. Vitus were placed. The fame of the religious building grew, which contributed to an increase in the number of pilgrims. The small building could no longer accommodate all the faithful, so in 1096 it was rebuilt into a three-nave rectangular basilica topped with two spiers.
The construction of St. Vitus Cathedral began in 1344 under Emperor Charles IV. Chapels, a magnificent altar and a clock tower were erected. Popular unrest in Prague, as well as feudal strife in medieval Europe, delayed the construction of the cathedral for a long time. After the end of all conflicts, the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire continued to complete the construction of the cathedral. Architects from different eras decorated the basilica with domes, arched galleries and stained glass windows. In 1929 St. Vitus Cathedral was finally built.
The facade of the cathedral is decorated with mosaics, relief images, stone lace, bizarre ornate ornaments in the form of Gothic petals, lancet windows, as well as many figures of chimeras. Three massive bronze portals form the entrance to the basilica. Two Gothic pointed spiers, as well as a massive tower with a bell and a clock, give the temple a special monumentality. The interior of the cathedral impresses with its beauty and dimensions.
Its length is 124 meters with a width of 60 meters. The walls of the basilica are painted with frescoes depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ, as well as legends about St. Wenceslas. The ceiling is decorated with a cross vault. The halls are separated by arches resting on massive columns. St. Vitus Cathedral consists of 21 chapels. They contain royal attributes of power (crown, power, scepter), precious jewelry, icons in gilded frames, statues and tombstones of Prague bishops and kings.
south tower
The tower of St. Vitus Cathedral, which adorns its southern facade, deserves special attention. This hundred-meter building of the basilica is the architectural dominant of the building. Over the centuries, the tower was completed and transformed by many architects. In 1770, its construction was completed. The tower is decorated with vertical Gothic ribs, narrow windows and topped with a baroque dome. The building is decorated with a gilded clock with two dials and a bell. At the top of the tower is an observation deck, to which 297 steps lead.
Rožmberg Palace
The mansion of the noble Czech nobles, the Rožmbergs, stands out noticeably against the backdrop of the entire architectural ensemble of Prague Castle. This pompous palace was erected in 1574. Over the centuries, the building has undergone a large-scale reconstruction, as a result of which the structure was connected to the Royal Palace.
The three-storey building consists of four wings, two of which have arcade galleries and cornices. In 1753, by the decision of Maria Theresa, the Institute of Noble Maidens settled in the palace, where 30 unmarried noblewomen lived. The girls lived in a separate building of the palace, and the rest of the premises housed the chapel, classrooms, living rooms and apartments of the abbesses. The halls are decorated with frescoes depicting the life of the students of the Institute.
royal garden
Prague Castle is surrounded by magnificent green spaces. In the 16th century, several gardens were laid out on the territory. For their arrangement invited craftsmen from Italy. Grapes, tulips, various exotic plants and many evergreen trees were grown here. The gardens were intended for the relaxation and entertainment of the monarchs. Among the lawns are small colorful buildings with arches, lined with bright plaster. There is also a terrace with picturesque figures of lions and angels. Sports competitions and theatrical performances were held in the royal garden.
deer ditch
There is a deep moat between the royal garden and fortifications. This natural depression is called Deer. Many of these animals grazed here. The gorge protected the Prague Castle from sudden attacks of enemies. When the Oleniy ditch lost its military significance, it became part of the reserve and a place for learning to ride. The moat is a forest park, where small glades with paths and tall trees are spread. In summer, you can hide from the bustle of the city and enjoy the fragrance of herbs and flowers.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The territory of Prague Castle is open to the public daily from 5:00 to 24:00. Entrance to the complex is free, but you have to pay to visit certain objects. Cathedrals, museums and palaces receive tourists from 9:00 to 18:00. It is recommended to purchase a single ticket for 350 kroons, thanks to which you can visit all the iconic places and premises of Prague Castle.
Where is it located and how to get there
The complex is located in the historical district of Prague – Gradnachany. The landmark rises on the left bank of the Vltava River. You can get to Prague Castle by trams No. 10, No. 20, No. 22. The stop Pražský hrad is located 300 meters from the palaces. You can also use the metro services, reaching the Malostranská station. From the metro to the complex, the distance is about 400 meters.