Prague Castle, Czechoslovakia
Posted On November 30, 2009
Prague Castle is a castle that is located in Prague. The Czechoslovakia kings and the presidents and the holy roman emperors and also the Czech Republic have their offices located at the Prague Castle. The jewels of the Czech crown are also kepy in the castle. According to the records of the Guinness book, Prague castle is the biggest castle in the world. It is placed on the top of the ancient castles category in the book.. The length of the castle is about 570 meters where as the width is about 130 meters.
The history of the castles has its start from the 9th century almost 870. The church of Our Lady was the first walled building. In the first half of the 10th century the Basilica of Saint George and St Vitus was been found. Near the church of St. George the first convent in Bohemia was found inside the castle.In the later 12th century a Romanesque palace was been erected. The royal palace was rebuilt in 14th century. The palace was rebuilt under the regime of Charles IV. The walls of the palace were strengthened and constructed in Gothic style.
During the Hussite wars nobody lived in the palace. The palace was again rebuilt in 1485 during the rule of King Ladislaus II Jagello. The huge Vladislav hall which was built by Benedikt Rejt was now added to the Royal palace. On the northern side of the palace new defense towers were constructed. Many large parts of the castles were destroyed in a huge fired that took place in 1541. Some buildings were also constructed during the Habsburgs and were designed in the renaissance style. A summer palace was later constructed by Ferdinand I for his wife Anne. The Prague castle was used as a main residence by Rudolph II. He constructed the Spanish hall to the palace with various valuable artistic collections that was kept in the display.
The castle was badly damaged and was falling to pieces after the Bohemian Revolt. The Swedes looted many of the art works of the collection of Rudolph II in the year 1648. The war did continue for nearly 30 years. Queen Maria Theresa had made the last and the major reconstruction of the palace in the early eighteenth century. After the end of his term in 1848, Ferdinand V decided to make Prague Castle his house.
Later in the year 1918 the president of the new Czechoslovakia seated in the Prague castle. Under the supervision of the architect Joze Plecnik the gardens and the new royal palace was renovated. After Joze Plecnik the renovations did continue till 1936 under the supervision of Pavel Janak.
The Prague castle acted as the headquarters of Reinhard Heydrich during the Second World War. Heydrich was assassinated within a year after he took the powers in his hands.
After the division of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the seat of the head of the state was placed in the Prague castles.
The guided tours are available. You can choose from the long or the short tour of the castle.
Long tour includes Old Royal Palace, Convent of St. George – National Gallery, permanent exhibition “The Story of Prague Castle”, St. George’s Basilica, Prague Castle Picture Gallery and Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower. The cost of this tour is 350 CZK
Short tour includes Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane with Daliborka Tower and St. George’s Basilica. The cost of this tour is 250 CZK
They opening hours of the castle are different in the different seasons generally it is opened from 5 in the morning till the mid-night. Photography is allowed in the castle but you cannot use tripod as well as the flash.
