Crowned by St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) is the metaphorical and historical throne of the Czech lands. Around 880 CE, Prince Bořivoj built a wooden fortress on this hilltop above the river, establishing it as the dynastic base of the Přemyslids. In the 14th century the castle became the seat of the Holy Roman Empire. Much of it was rebuilt by Empress Maria Theresa in the latter half of the 18th century, giving it a formal Neo-Classical look. Today the castle is the official residence of the Czech president.
Hradčany • 224 372423, 224 372434 • Adm (various combination tickets available; check on the castle website) • www.hrad.cz
Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane, St. George’s Basilica, Rosenberg Palace, Powder Tower, Daliborka Tower, & Picture Gallery: open Apr–Oct: 9am–5pm daily; Nov–Mar: 9am–4pm daily
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Great South Tower: open Apr–Oct: 10am–6pm daily (Nov–Mar: until 5pm)
Lobkowicz Palace: open 10am–6pm daily; www.lobkowicz.cz
Grounds: open 6am–10pm daily
While Prince Bořivoj made do with a wooden structure, subsequent residences were built on top of each other as the tastes of Bohemia’s rulers changed. Halls are decorated with coats of arms.
Emperor Ferdinand I and his son Maximilian II gave the castle some greenery in the late 16th century, and First Republic architect Josip Plečnik created the lined paths, steps, and grottoes that extend to Malá Strana.
The castle’s White Tower was once used as a prison and torture chamber. Today, shops here sell grisly souvenirs. The gangways from which archers once watched over the moat are lined with replicas of weapons.
The only privately owned building in the castle complex, this rival to the National Gallery holds works by Bruegel, Canaletto, Dürer, Rubens, and Velázquez in its collection.
Prince Boleslav II, with Princess Mlada, established the first Czech convent for Benedictine nuns here in 973 CE. The Romanesque building is not open to the public.
Prince Vratislav built the basilica around 920 CE. The 13th-century chapel of St. Ludmila, St. Wenceslas’s grandmother, is decorated with beautiful 16th-century paintings.
Built by the Italian architect Anselmo Lurago in 1763, this chapel houses the Treasure of St. Vitus, which includes the sword of St. Wenceslas.
This 16th-century palace has had multiple uses during its history: as an 18th-century residence for noblewomen, as part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Czechoslovakia, and as modern presidential offices.
In order to avoid paying guild dues in town, goldsmiths lived in these colorful little houses that were built into the castle walls.
When captured, Dalibor, a Czech Robin Hood figure, became the first prisoner of the tower that now takes his name.
Most of the grounds are free to enter, but tickets to see the interiors are sold at the information centers in the second and third courtyards. The shorter circuit takes in Golden Lane, the Old Royal Palace, St. George’s Basilica, St. Vitus’s, and Daliborka Tower; the longer tour circuit adds the Powder Tower and the Rosenberg Palace. Tickets for other castle areas are also available.
18.220.126.5