History

Initially, a medieval princely seat of the late ninth century founded by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid dynasty was situated here. A Romanesque basilica was built during the 11th century. Major work was carried out during the reign of Charles IV (e.g. foundation of St. Vitus Cathedral) when the Castle became an imperial residence. Under Wladislaw Jagello, the late Gothic reconstruction was commenced. At the beginning of the 16th century, along with the accession of the Habsburgs, the Castle was remodeled in the Renaissance style (

Summer Palace,

Royal Garden). The great reconstruction culminated during the reign of Rudolph II at the turn of the 17th century as the castle became a center of arts and science. During the 17th century,

Prague Castle was merely an occasional home to the imperial court, which had moved to

Vienna by then. Further alterations came much later, namely during the reign of Marie Theresa in the latter half of the 18th century, when the Castle was remodeled in the style of Rococo Neo-Classicism.

Prague Castle became the seat of the president of the

Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, and has been the seat of the president of the Czech Republic since January 1, 1993.

Matthias Gate (Matyášova brána)
Early Baroque sandstone gate of 1614.

Spanish Hall
Late Baroque hall built in 1602 - 1606 on the design of the Italian architect G. M. Filippi.

Chapel of the Holy Cross
Situated in the corner of the Second Courtyard, built as a private chapel in 1756-63 during the re-adaptation by architect

N. Pacassi.

Prague Castle Picture Gallery
Replaced former stables in the 1960s. Its core has the remnants of Rudolphine collections.

St. Vitus Cathedral
Founded during the reign of Charles IV in 1344. The Prague Archbishopric was established in the same year, at which point

Prague Castle became an imperial residence. The first construction phase was supervized by the French architect Matthias of Arras (until 1352), then replaced by Peter Parler of Gmünd and his sons until 1406. The plastic decoration was supplied by Parler’s workshop between 1360 and the beginning of the 15th century.  
The construction was interrupted by the Hussite Revolution in the 15th century, with the eastern side of the cathedral being closed with a temporary wall. The construction of the western part of the cathedral was commenced as late as 1873 and completed on the occasion of the Svatováclavské millennium in 1929. The cathedral’s principal chapel is St. Wenceslas Chapel, which contains the Coronation Jewels –the 14th-century crown, mid-14th-century sword, scepter and orb, both from the first half of the 16th century, and a mantle and stoles from the 18th century.

Old

Royal Palace
An intricate residential complex of Bohemian princes and kings. It grew out of the foundations of Soběslav’s 12th-century Romanesque palace.

Vladislav Hall
The largest secular hall of medieval

Prague built by Benedikt Ried in 1493–1502.

Mihulka

Powder Tower
A tower used as a gunpowder storehouse. It now houses the permanent exhibition of the Rudolphine era focused on crafts, astrology and alchemy. It is 20 meters tall.

St George’s  Basilica
The oldest church structure preserved in the castle precincts. The basilica was founded by Prince Vratislav I in about 920.

Golden Lane
Tiny dwellings for the castle marksmen built in the arches of Ried’s fortification.

Daliborka
The cannon tower was built by B. Ried in 1496. Named after the first prisoner Dalibor of Kozojedy - a legend of later date made him protector of the subjects (also the subject of an opera by Bedřich Smetana).

Lobkowicz

Palace
Built by the Pernštejn dynasty in the 16th century. The Baroque reconstruction was carried out in 1651-58. A history exhibition of the

National Museum.

Queen Ann’s Summer Palace
The purest Renaissance structure in

Central Europe from 1535-37. The Singing Fountain.

Prague

Castle Gardens
The Royal Garden of Prague Castle was founded by Ferdinand I in 1534. The most captivating structures include Queen Ann’s

Summer Palace, Ball Game Pavilion, and the Lion’s Court. 

 

The

Prague Castle garden complex consists of:
South gardens – Paradise (Rajská) and

Hartig Gardens, Garden on the Ramparts (Na valech) – re-adapted during the

First Republic era by J. Plečnik. Garden on the Bastion (na baště), on the Riding School Terrace (Na terase Jízdárny), Upper Deer Moat (Horní Jelení příkop) with Masaryk lookout point.

The Riding

School of

Prague Castle
Baroque structure by J.  B. Mathey from 1694 – 1695. Used as exhibition hall.

Tags: Chapel of the Holy Cross, Daliborka, Golden Lane, Lobkowicz Palace, Matthias Gate, Prague Castle, Prague Castle Gardens, Queen Ann’s Summer Palace, Spanish Hall, St George’s Basilica, St. Vitus Cathedral, The Riding School of Prague Castle, Vladislav Hall