PRAGUE CASTLE
Prague Castle is the biggest ancient castle in the world and the most visited attraction of Prague. The first fortified settlement here was founded by Prince Bořivoj already in the 9th century. The castle has always been the seat of head of the state.
Historical monuments in the Prague Castle complex can be visited with purchased Prague Castle Administration tickets. Admission to the Prague Castle Gardens is free. From 1st April to the end of October the Castle complex is open from 5 a.m. to midnight, while premises requiring tickets (St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, Powder Tower, Golden Lane, Daliborka Tower and Saint George's Convent) are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Prague Castle Gardens, including the Deer Moat with nature trail, are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the summer season.
The most interesting buildings in the Prague Castle complex are:
St. Vitus Cathedral
St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and the most important temple in Prague. Apart from religious services the coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place in here. The cathedral is a place of interment of remains of provincial patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops. The cathedral's foundation stone was laid in 1344 by Emperor Charles IV.
The Spanish Hall and Rudolf Gallery
The halls and large and small salons are intended for the reception of official guests of the President of the Czech Republic. The state-rooms are not ordinarily open to the visitors of the Castle. Usually, they are open to the public twice a year
Picture Gallery of Prague Castle
Created in 1965 the gallery houses paintings from the 16th to 18th centuries. There are also sculptures, paintings by Czech Baroque artists and many of Rudolph's II best paintings. ¨
Lobkowicz Palace
The construction of a palace building was started before the mid- 16th century. Now it serves for exhibition purposes and you may find here replicas of the Czech crown jewels.
Mihulka Powder Tower
The tower called Mihulka was built in the late 15th century as a part of the new bulwarks designed by Benedikt Ried. At the time of the Emperor Rudolph II an alchemist's workshop, later a gunpowder storehouse existed here. Today it is a museum of alchemy, bell- and cannon-forging.
Royal Summer Palace
The Royal Summer Palace, also called Queen Anne's Summer Palace, was built to the order of Ferdinand I from 1538 to 1560. It is the most authentic Italian Renaissance building outside Italy. It houses temporary modern art exhibitions.
Riding School
It was built at the end of the 17th century and since the mid 20th century the Riding School was converted into an exhibition hall.
Ball Game Hall
This Renaissance, richly decorated building served successively for ball games and as a riding school and a stable. During the reign of the Emperor Joseph II it was used as a military storehouse and today it is open only for exhibitions, concerts and important social events.
Old Royal Palace
Dating from 1135 it is one of the oldest parts of the castle. It was the seat of Bohemian princes but from the 13th to the 16th century it was the king's palace. Vladislav Hall, in the centre of the palace, was used for banquets, councils, coronations and in bad weather, jousting. The other parts are the Rider's staircase, a place where all the Czech presidents have been sworn, New Land Rolls Room, the old map repository for land titles and All Saints' Chapel.
Golden Lane
Named after the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th century, Golden Lane is popular with its tiny colorful houses built right into the arches of the Castle walls. In the 18th and 19th centuries they were occupied by squatters, later it was the home of the writer France Kafka (house 22) and the Nobel-laureate poet Jaroslaf Seifert. Most of them are souvenir shops today.
