The Prague complex consists of a set of palaces, churches, fortifications and gardens, which spread over 45 hectares, which is why this complex is considered the largest in the world…
This statement may not be true, but this complex certainly dominates the panorama of Prague and if you only have one day at your disposal, you will spend it here. This is the most important tour you will do in Prague.
What is certain is that it is the oldest castle in Prague. It has been in use since the 9th century. It was once home to Czech kings as well as kings of the Holy Roman Empire. Today it is the official residence of the Czech president. He performs all duties here since 1918. When the president is in the building, the flag is displayed and these rooms are not open to visitors.
This is the most popular attraction in Prague. You must visit her. So get ready for the queues.
Although it is hard to believe, you can enter the complex for free, after a security check.
All courtyards, as well as the royal garden, are free. Enjoying the panorama of the city, as well as the changing of the guard, is free. If you want to enter individual attractions, then you have to buy a ticket.
You can buy combined or individual tickets inside the complex. Crowds are less in the afternoon.
History
The first settlement in this place is mentioned as early as 880. It was a small fortress, built by Prince Borivoi for defensive purposes. This place was a good choice, because the fort was located 250m above sea level.
The development proceeded very quickly, so that already in the 10th century, the center of the bishop’s and royal power was located here. The castle experienced its golden period during the reign of Charles IV. who strengthened and expanded the fortress. He built many palaces and started building a cathedral. However, his son and successor, Wenceslas, did not have such diplomatic skills, so thanks to that and some complex circumstances, the Hussite War took place in 1419. Then many monuments and palaces were destroyed and badly damaged.
In the 16th century, the vacant place on the throne was occupied by the Habsburg dynasty, which would rule these territories until World War I.
After that, the first Czech president Tomas Masaryk came to power and since then his residence has been in the castle.
The last members of the royal family who stayed here were Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1991.
Each ruler added something new, so here we have various styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque. Today, royal insignia, Christian relics and Czech rulers are buried here…
To help you know which ticket to buy, here’s a list of what you need to see.
Cathedral of St. Vitus
This cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. They were building it for 600 years. The cathedral is dedicated to St. Vitus, a Sicilian martyr from the 4th century, who is considered the patron saint of dancers and entertainers as well as those suffering from epilepsy.
It is considered that St. Vitus can protect you from lightning strikes. Construction began in 1344. and it was completed in 1929. Here are the remains of St. Wenceslas and many other important church relics, such as the hand of St. Vitus.
It is possible to enter the cathedral itself for free and see its grandeur only from the entrance.
If you want to visit the whole place, you have to pay for it. This is a place where you should not hesitate about the ticket because the entrance looks like this.
The cathedral is so grandiose that pictures are not enough. I wrote about the cathedral in more detail here.
The old royal palace
The Old Royal Palace is the oldest residence of Czech kings. It is a complex of rooms dominated by the Hall of Vladislav, with its own dimensions. It is 13 m high, 62 m long and 15 m wide and is the largest secular hall in medieval Europe.
It was built in the 12th century on the foundations of an old wooden palace. Later, it underwent numerous changes, especially during the reign of Charles IV and during the reign of Maria Theresa in the 18th century. It is characterized by elements of Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Balls, feasts, coronations, receptions, tournaments were held here. Guests could ride horses directly into the palace.
Here you can see the council chambers, from whose windows defenestration was carried out in 1618. the old bohemian custom of throwing from the window.
The most important in terms of consequences happened in 1618. when the local population demanded that a Protestant church be built on the king’s land. The then King of the Holy Roman Empire, Ferdinand II, as a representative of the hard Catholic line, sent emissaries with a letter of prohibition.
Dissatisfied with the decision, the Bohemian rulers expressed their anger by throwing the emissaries out of the window. The emissaries survived the fall thanks to a pile of horse dung that was there. When they conveyed the message to the king, an enraged Ferdinand raised an army and thus began a 30-year war in which 8 million people lost their lives and Bohemia ceased to exist.
Here is the Diet Hall, built in 1415. where the officials met the King, and the place of sitting is according to their rank.
There is also a room where all the decisions made by the Diet were recorded and kept.
All these rooms are still used today.
As you can see, we can also visit this palace in a wheelchair.
Rosenberg Palace
Continuing the walk, you reach another palace in the Prague complex. It was made by the Rosenberg family in the 16th century. Due to financial difficulties, it was soon sold to King Rudolph II, but the name has remained to this day.
In the 18th century, Queen Maria Theresa built the Teresianum here. This institute provided help in the form of education to young unmarried Austrian and Hungarian girls of noble origin, who were without dowries.
Maria Theresa’s daughter, Archduchess Maria Anna, continued to support this and did so until 1919. after which the aristocracy ceased to exist. The need for this type of assistance has also ceased. Today it serves as an administrative building.
St. George Chapel
When the foundation for Prague Castle was laid, at the same time, in 920 to be exact. the construction of this basilica also began, which also makes it one of the oldest churches in the city.
She changed her appearance many times. It was originally built in the Romanesque style, then Gothic elements were added, and finally the Baroque style.
In this basilica are the tombs of some members of the ruling Pšemislović dynasty, such as the tomb of Prince Vratislav, the father of the famous St. Wenceslas.
The basilica is wheelchair accessible.
Golden Street
A small street with eleven pastel-colored houses is located within the Prague Castle.
It was built in the 16th century, and the first inhabitants were alchemists, who, by order of King Rudolph, were looking for a formula to make gold. Today’s appearance is mainly due to Maria Theresa. She issued an order to replace the houses with new ones, built of solid material.
During the 19th century, it was inhabited by various artists, and the most famous among them was Franz Kafka, who lived in the house numbered 22. During 1913.
Today, there are craft shops and souvenir shops here.
You can also visit this street for free, because the gate remains open even after working hours. The houses will be closed, but the walk is free.
All this did not help me decide to visit, either because of the slope or because of the cobblestones.
Today, there are craft shops and small souvenir shops here.
Daliborka Tower
A walk through the Prague complex ends next to this tower. Behind it is a rather steep downhill, so I do not recommend going to this side for people in wheelchairs.
Still, it’s nice to know how this tower got its name. A prison used to be located here. First it was a prison for members of the aristocracy, and later it became a prison for everyone.
One of the prisoners was the knight Dalibor, sentenced to death because he hid various types of troublemakers in his home. While waiting for his sentence to be executed, Dalibor learned to play the violin. The residents got so used to the sounds that he became a favorite, so the date of his execution was never made public.
Royal jewels
The Prague complex houses the Czech crown jewels, such as the crown of St. Wenceslas, the royal scepter and many others.
They are kept under a special regime and are presented to the public only on special occasions.
Deer trench
The castle is surrounded on the upper side by a moat, which is actually the natural bed of the Brusnica river.
It got its name from deer, which were bred here in the 17th century. Later it was also possible to find bear tracks. It is open for visits during the summer.
The Royal Garden
Every castle has a royal garden, and Prague is no exception. There are two gardens and two separate entrances here.
It is believed that the foundation for these gardens was laid by King Ferdinand I as early as 1534. He slowly bought old vineyards from the owners of the land around the Brusnica river and turned them into a garden with Renaissance features.
Later, the gardens were redesigned in the Baroque spirit, although there is also an English style which offers a wonderful view of the city. Visiting the garden is free and very refreshing, as it allows you to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
There are fountains and rare vegetation here, which were brought by the previous rulers.
Some of the specimens are up to 400 years old. Emperor Rudolph II even created a tropical garden, which is maintained to this day.
Changing of the guard
Another activity, which you can watch for free, is the changing of the guard. It has been happening since 1918. when the Prague Castle becomes the home of the Czech President.
The shift takes place every day with a special march. Then the guards change places with musical accompaniment. The colorful uniforms were created by Theodore Pistek, who won an Oscar for costume design in the movie Amadeus. Speaking of which, Mozart also stayed several times in the Prague complex and loved this city. His masterpieces were often performed here.
How to get to the castle?
There are several ways, which you can find at this link, where everything is nicely explained.
My recommendation is to stick to tram no. 22 and get off at one of the suggested stops, which will be right in front of the castle. It is best to get off at Praški hrad station. It takes you directly to the second courtyard, and from there all the attractions are at your fingertips.
This is also the best option for people in wheelchairs. If you want to take a look at the garden first, and only then at the castle, then you will get off at the Královský letohrádek station. If you want to enter the main entrance, get off at the Pohorelec station and then you have another 10 min walk to the entrance. If you decide to come from the direction of the city, on the lower side, prepare for the climb and the cobblestones. It is best for people in wheelchairs to take the same tram back, because going down to the city on foot is not an easy option at all.
I don’t recommend cars, because parking is impossible in that part of the city.
Conclusion
I immensely enjoyed my visit to Prague Castle. It is a journey through time and history.
The castle is not fully accessible to people in wheelchairs, but you can see the effort and goodwill. I never once felt left out. You can easily spend a day here to see everything Prague Castle has to offer.
The Prague complex is something all travelers should put on their checklist.
Have you been to the Prague complex?
Did I miss something?
Traveled and enjoyed,
Marko Velickovic
