The majestic Old Royal Palace (Starý královský palác), located in the Third Courtyard, served as the residence of Czech kings for almost six centuries, from the 10th to the 16th centuries. Then it housed the state authorities, and during the 19th century the Old Royal Palace was hardly used. Over the centuries, the palace has been changed and transformed by its owners. Today, the Old Royal Palace is an amazing combination of Renaissance and Gothic. But first things first.
A bit of history
The first princely wooden palace was built on the site of the current Old Royal Palace in the 9th century. Three centuries later, under King Sobeslav I, the wooden palace was rebuilt into a stone residence. Archaeological research has discovered the walls of this 12th-century Romanesque building in the underground floors of the Old Royal Palace.
Over the next two centuries, the palace became very dilapidated and King Charles IV, having come to power, practically rebuilt the palace anew in the second half of the 14th century. Then the palace received a gallery with massive arches, a northern facade and a heating system for residential premises - the walls of some halls were heated by warm air supplied through pipes from a large constantly kindled fireplace, thereby raising the temperature in the premises.
At the end of the 15th century, during the reign of King Vladislav II, after a large-scale reconstruction led by Benedict Reed, the Old Royal Palace received its modern look. It was then that the magnificent Vladislav Hall appeared in the palace, which became the largest ceremonial room of its time. With the death of Louis, son of Vladislav II, the Jagiellonian dynasty ended, and at the beginning of the 16th century, the Habsburgs established themselves on the Czech throne for the next three centuries. The new ruling dynasty ordered to build a new residence for themselves, not wanting to use the apartments of the Old Royal Palace. Since then, the main government bodies have been located in the palace.
One of the main attractions of the Old Royal Palace is considered to be the Vladislav Hall (Vladislavský sál). This splendid example of late Gothic was the site of the main celebrations in Prague for several centuries. Since the 16th century, it has been decorated with five beautiful chandeliers, two of which are original, and three others are exact copies. The Vladislav Hall is famous for its unique vaults and impresses with its size: 13 meters high, 62 meters long and 16 meters wide.
In addition to ceremonial events, the Vladislav Hall hosted jousting tournaments. In order for a heavily armed knight on horseback to enter the hall for the tournament, the Horsemen's Ladder (Jezdecké schody) was created. Preserved to our time, it, like five centuries ago, connects the Vladislav Hall and St. George's Square. Under Rudolph II, in the Vladislav Hall, open to the common people, fairs were held, at which household goods, jewelry and all sorts of things were sold in many shops.
Louis Wing
The Louis Wing, built at the very beginning of the 16th century from the side of the city, is part of the Old Royal Palace. Despite the fact that late Gothic prevails in the interiors of this part of the palace, early Renaissance features are already clearly visible in the design of the facades. For this reason, many art historians believe that the Louis Wing can be regarded as an independent architectural object and the first Renaissance palace in the Czech Republic.
At the beginning of the 17th century, one of the most significant events in the history of both the Czech Republic and all of Europe took place in the hall of the court office of the Louis wing. It was from here, from the windows of the hall, that the Czech aristocrats threw out the Austrian royal governors, who represented the power of the Habsburgs in the Czech Republic. This event, called the Second Prague Defenestration, was the beginning of the class uprising and the Thirty Years' War, which engulfed all of Europe. This fateful historical event there was also a curious side: none of those thrown out the window died, and the Catholic Church explained this miraculous salvation the providence of God. In fact, the unfortunate people were saved by a pile of manure, which appeared under the window and softened the fall.
On the site of the Chapel of All Saints (Kostel Všech svatých), there used to be a palace Romanesque chapel, built at the end of the 12th century specifically for the prayers of members of the royal family. During the serious reconstruction of the Old Royal Palace undertaken by Charles IV, the famous architect Peter Parlerge rebuilt it into a magnificent Gothic chapel, taking the Paris Sainte-Chapelle as a model. Unfortunately, the creation of Parlerge was completely destroyed by a great fire in 1541, and the Chapel of All Saints that we see now is a reconstruction in the Renaissance style.
Today, the tombstone of St. Prokop, one of the patrons of the Czech lands, is located in the chapel, and on the walls of the chapel you can see images that tell about his life. The relics of Saint Prokop were transferred to during the reign of Empress Maria Teresa.
In this hall (Sněmovní síň) meetings of the Sejm, or Parliament, were held. Now the furniture in the hall is located as it was in the middle of the 17th century: the royal throne in the center of the hall, next to it is an armchair for the archbishop, behind it are the benches of church dignitaries, opposite the throne are places intended for representatives of the nobility and chivalry, and for the highest zemstvo ranks - benches along the walls.
The meeting room of the Sejm was also almost destroyed by fire in 1541. During the reconstruction of the 16th century, he acquired arches similar to those of the Vladislav Hall. However, the mesh ribbed vaults of the Seimas Assembly Hall are only a decorative decoration that does not carry a functional load. Portraits of representatives of the Habsburg dynasty adorn the walls of the hall.
Today, solemn meetings of the Czech government are held in the Sejm Hall, and the President signs the constitutional oath after his election. Czech crown jewels are exhibited here, of course, these are copies, the originals are stored in the Crown Chamber above the Chapel of St. Wenceslas in.
Chamber of Zemstvo Books
A beautiful carved door leads from the Vladislav Hall to the Chamber of New Zemstvo Books (Místnosti Nových zemských desek). The chamber includes four of the most colorful halls of the Old Royal Palace. These halls were used as workrooms, and on their walls and vaults are depicted the multi-colored coats of arms of officials who worked here from the second half of the 16th to the second half of the 18th century. Zemsky books were also kept here, in which decisions of the Zemsky court, records of transactions and contracts were entered. Books were accounted for by the color of the bindings and the drawings of flowers, animals or patterns placed on them. Thanks to such an accounting system, the zemstvo books, preserved and displayed in the chamber in a carved Renaissance cabinet, look very picturesque.
The inscription in the Chamber of New Zemstvo Books testifies that the official was already an official in the Middle Ages: “We won’t write to anyone, we won’t read to anyone until we receive cash in advance.”
Exterior of the palace
Plan-scheme of the Old Royal Palace
Palace construction
The palace was erected in 1135-1185 in the Romanesque style under Sobeslav I and Vladislav II on the site of a wooden princely palace of the 9th-11th centuries. southern part the new building simultaneously served as a defensive wall of the Prague Castle fortress, so massive towers rose in the corners. After several reconstructions and rebuildings, only the first floor remained from the original Romanesque palace of the 12th century, which today is underground. The surviving halls of the Romanesque era include:
1 - a room with a Romanesque fireplace and the remains of a 15th-century air heating system.
2 - Throne room of Charles IV.
3 - Chamber of old zemstvo boards(Světnice starých zemských desek). Zemsky boards are the most important source of law of the Czech Kingdom in the 13th-18th centuries, which were records enclosed in wooden binding. Having emerged as registers of records of decisions of the zemstvo court and zemstvo diets, the boards very soon began to register the property relations of the nobles, fixing the facts of the emergence, transfer and termination of rights to property, primarily real estate. The registration record in the zemstvo boards was of decisive importance when referring to it during the trial and was more important than witness testimony.
On June 2, 1541, the entire collection of zemstvo boards (100 volumes, which contained about 70,000 entries) burned down during a severe fire that destroyed most of the Hradchany and Mala Strana regions. This event plunged the Czech lands into a long period of litigation, the nobles were forced to collect various circumstantial evidence to confirm ownership of their property.
Zemstvo boards that appeared after 1541 were in.
4 (Zelena svetnice). Court sessions took place here until the 18th century. The walls are decorated with coats of arms of court officials. It was from the Green Chamber that on May 23, 1618, representatives of the Czech estates set off to carry out the Second Prague Defenestration, which became the beginning of the Uprising of the Estates and led to the Thirty Years' War.
5 - foyer(předsali).
6 - foundation South gate of the fortress. In the 12th century, the gate with the gate tower was a separate structure, but over time, due to the expansion of the palace, they were demolished, and the foundation became the basis for a new wing.
Palace expansion under Charles IV and Wenceslas IV
In 1526, with the death of the 20-year-old childless Louis (he died in the battle of Mohacs against the troops of Suleiman the Magnificent), the male line of the ruling Jagiellonian dynasty was cut short. Ferdinand I of Habsburg was elected king, who over time ensured that the title became hereditary for his family. The Czech lands lost their independence until 1918.
Influence of the Habsburgs
By this time (1526) new style The Renaissance already completely dictated the fashion for palace architecture. The Habsburgs considered the Old Royal Palace to be very outdated, so next to it (on the western side) they first built a small but modern palace of Ferdinand I, and then another one for Rudolf II. Subsequently, they became the basis for the New Royal Palace, which became the main residence of the Habsburgs during their stay in the Czech Republic.
The need to expand or rebuild the Old Royal Palace has completely disappeared. For this reason, the palace has retained the appearance that it had at the beginning of the 16th century, which today makes it a rare example of late Gothic secular architecture.
From the middle of the 16th century until 1918, the office of Czech governors (managers appointed by the Habsburgs) was located in the Old Royal Palace, as well as administrative and judicial authorities controlled by them.
Main halls and chambers of the palace
11 - Chamber of the Czech Chancellery(České kanceláre). The governors who pursued a pro-Austrian policy to the detriment of the interests of the Czech kingdom met here. Therefore, it was in this chamber of the palace that the Second Prague defenestration took place, when representatives of the Czech estates, dissatisfied with the dominance of the Habsburg authorities, threw two governors and their clerk out of the window of the third floor, which they wanted to show that they no longer need their "services".
12 - Imperial Council Chamber(Světnice Říšské dvorské rady). The walls are decorated with portraits of the Habsburgs. Above the door is a painting depicting the siege of Prague by King Friedrich of Prussia in 1757. Also in the chamber you can see original pieces of furniture, a baroque tiled stove of the 17th century and two wooden memorial shields from the funeral of Emperors Maximilian II and Rudolf II. It was in this room that the trial of the participants in the Revolt of the Estates took place.
13 - (Sněmovní síň) - the place where the meetings of the Zemstvo Sejm and the Zemstvo Court were held. The fan (rib) vault of the hall was made in the same style as, but much later and is only a decorative decoration (the ribs do not serve as supports for the vault). The walls of the hall, as well as the Imperial Council Chamber, are also decorated with portraits of the Habsburgs (Maria Theresa, her husband Joseph II, Leopold II and Francis II).
The modern arrangement of furniture corresponds to the setting of 1627: a neo-Gothic royal throne with a canopy, above it is the coat of arms of the 17th century with a Bohemian lion. To the left of the throne is the chair of the archbishop; behind him is the bench of prelates. Along the walls stretch benches for senior zemstvo officials, and opposite the throne - benches for representatives of the nobility and chivalry. On the right side of the window is open gallery for representatives of the royal cities.
It was in this hall that it was decided to carry out a wave of persecution of the Protestant population of the Czech lands (according to various estimates, their figure ranged from 40 to 60%). Under the threat of confiscation of property, Protestants were forced to convert to Catholicism or emigrate.
Currently, the Sejm Hall is used for ceremonial meetings of the Czech National Council. Copies of the coronation regalia (crown of St. Wenceslas, scepter, orb and mantle) are exhibited here. The originals are in the closed Crown Chamber of St. Vitus Cathedral.
14 (Místnost nových desek zemských) includes four rooms that served as offices for officials, as well as a storage place for zemstvo boards, which appeared after the fire of 1541 and began to be called new.
16 - Teresian tract(Tereziánské křídlo). Built by the decree of Maria Theresa in 1766-1768 to accommodate clerical registers of records (were kept for the registration of various institutions). Nowadays, the path is used as showroom for contemporary art.
Permanent exhibition "History of Prague Castle"
The exhibition "History of Prague Castle" (Czech. Příběh Pražského hradu) tells about the construction development of the fortress from the moment the first settlement appeared on Opysh Hill to the present day. This is the story of the main palace complex Bohemia, events and personalities (rulers, nobles, architects, artists) associated with it.
The exposition includes many thematic halls, for example, "History of the feast", "History of education", "History of the coronation", which presents a large number of original exhibits supplemented with informative texts. For children, a program called "Game at the Castle" with special tasks has been developed.
All tourists, once in Prague, strive in the first days of their stay in this ancient city visit the legendary Old Royal Palace, which is historical part Prague Castle, where Czech kings and eminent princes lived from the 10th to the 16th century. There are several attractions at once that will attract the attention of all vacationers and give a lot of the most pleasant impressions. Moreover, many Prague hotels offer excursions to these places.
All Saints Church
The Church of All Saints, built in the middle of the 14th century according to the design of Peter Parler, will not leave anyone indifferent. Initially, the building stood separately, but after the fire of 1541, which consumed both the palace and the Church, it became part of the Old Royal Palace. Here is the tomb of St. Prokofy, whose life is told by the paintings on the walls. The solemn divine services that take place here make a particularly strong impression.
Vladislav Hall
Vladislav Hall as part of the Old Royal Palace occupies a special place among the sights of the Czech Republic. This is the largest ceremonial room in Europe, famous for its unique lily-shaped vaults. Here you will be told the history of its construction:
- built at the end of the 15th century by order of Vladislav II;
- responsible for the construction was Benedict Reith;
- the purpose of the hall was not at all limited to parliamentary meetings: most often it was used for entertaining amusements of the aristocracy (dances, tournaments, theatrical performances);
- beginning in 1723, the Vladislav Hall served as a venue for coronation banquets;
- in 1791, the famous industrial exhibition was held here;
- Since 1918, public holidays and festive events have been organized in the hall.
When visiting the Old Royal Palace, you will be delighted with the luxury, wealth and beauty of the Vladislav Hall. You will surely be amazed by the fact that the knights could enter the hall directly on horseback, climbing the Rider's Ladder. Entering the gallery of the southern part of the hall, you can see a bewitching view of the city.
Other parts of the palace are also of interest to tourists: Ludwig's Wing, Teresa's Way and others.
In addition, the sights of Prague in this part of the city are complemented by the remains of the palace of Charles IV and the throne room of the Sobeslav Palace, preserved from the 12th century, as well as St. Vitus Cathedral. The Old Royal Palace is open for viewing by tourists who can visit an exhibition dedicated to the history of Prague Castle.
Old Royal Palace in Prague on the map of Prague
All tourists, once in Prague, strive in the first days of their stay in this ancient city to visit the legendary Old Royal Palace, which is a historical part of the Prague Castle, in which Czech kings and eminent princes lived from the 10th to the 16th centuries. There are several sights here at once that will attract the attention of all vacationers and give a lot of the most pleasant experiences..." />
Chic, splendor and splendor of the Old Royal Palace of Prague senorita_angie wrote in April 3rd, 2016
4.
Inside the palace, the huge Vladislav Hall, located on the top floor of the palace, is especially impressive. It was created under Vladislav Jagiello by the architect Benedikt Reit and was named after Ludwig's son. This is a fine example of late Gothic. It was here that coronations, meetings, fairs of luxury goods took place. And along the stairs of riders on horseback, knights descended into the hall during jousting tournaments.
5.
The hall impresses both with its scale and details that you want to carefully consider.
6.
7.
8.
9.
We go south.
10.
From here you have wonderful views of the city.
11.
The Petrin Tower is clearly visible on the Petrin Hill of the same name, the one that is a small copy of the famous Eiffel Tower.
12.
Cathedral of St. Nicholas.
13.
In the distance, you can see the Zizkov TV Tower, which will be one of my future posts, and other outlines famous places Prague.
14.
We go to the Houses of Parliament. Under the rule of the Habsburg dynasty, the palace was used as a government office and storage.
15.
The palace remained the residence of Czech princes and kings until the 16th century. Then the central institutions of the Czech state were located here. In the XIX century. the palace was practically not used. In the XX century. The palace building was reconstructed and opened to visitors. Since 1918 the election of the president of the republic takes place here, and since 1945. - the most important meetings of national importance.
16.
17.
In this room you can also see exact copies of Czech royal regalia (the originals are kept in the Crown Chamber cathedral St. Vita). The regalia includes the crown of St. Wenceslas, the royal scepter and royal orb, as well as the golden coronation cross and the ceremonial sword of St. Wenceslas. Here you can see the first three of the listed objects.
18.
The crown (Svatováclavská koruna) was made by order of Charles IV, who dedicated it to St. Vaclav. It was first used in 1347. for the coronation of Charles as king of Bohemia. Its width and height are 19 cm, and its weight is 2,358.3 g. It is made of gold (21-22 carats) and decorated with precious stones, many of which are the largest, rarest and most beautiful stones of their kind in the world (19 sapphires , 44 spinels, 1 ruby, 30 emeralds and 20 pearls), there is also a sapphire cameo with a relief of the Crucifixion, placed on the crowning cross.
19.
The orb (Královské jablko) and the scepter (královské žezlo) were made in the first half of the 16th century, most likely for Ferdinand I, who was crowned King of Bohemia in 1527, King of Rome in 1531, and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in 1556. They were also made of high-grade gold, and precious stones were used for decoration: sapphires, spinels, pearls. The walls of the orb are decorated with chased reliefs with biblical scenes. The scepter is decorated with intricate ornaments with plant motifs, the top is in the shape of a flower. The scepter is 67cm long and weighs 1013g.
20.
Such a drawing was seen on one of the walls of the palace .. I wonder if these are modern or ancient arts?
21.
View from the north side of the palace.
22.
By the way, inside the Royal Palace there is an exhibition of the history of Prague, it presents the armor of St. Wenceslas and the miraculously preserved clothes of Emperor Rudolf II, in which he was buried in 1612. There are also films, models of castles and other exhibits of historical value.
23.
Leaving the palace on the square, which also overlooks the Cathedral of St. Vita (III courtyard of Prague Castle), the gaze falls on the fountain, which is decorated with a copy of the equestrian statue of George the Victorious.
24.
The original was made in 1373. and became the first equestrian monument in Central Europe. In the XVI century. the figure of the saint was seriously damaged, it was restored and is now kept in the National Museum.
25.
We pass to the II courtyard of the Prague Castle, here is the chapel of the Holy Cross. It was attached to the palace in the 18th century. It is also sometimes called the Treasury, since it was here from 1961 to 1990. there was an exposition of treasures from the so-called svyatovitsky treasure, which consisted of more than 400 unique jewelry and textile items.
26.
Here is one of the oldest fountains in Prague - the Kola Fountain (Kohlova kašna), which is also called the Lion Fountain or Leopold, built in 1686. Here there are images of lions and sea deities. It is called so because the author was the sculptor I. Kol.
27.
Next to the fountain there is a well, decorated with a high iron grate with forged openwork ornaments and an elegant rosette bud on top. It appeared later than the fountain - in the 18th century, its depth is 14 m. The well served as a castle reservoir and a fire pool.
28.
The main gate, located on the western side of the Prague Castle and leading directly to the building of the Presidential Palace, looks very beautiful. By the way, one can easily understand whether the president is inside the country or not: if a banner is raised above the building, then the head of state is inside the country.
29.
And the changing of the guard deserves special attention. It's always interesting to watch this.
30.
By the way, it takes place not only here, but also in other parts of Prague Castle, every hour from 7 am to 8 pm (summer time) or until 6 pm ( winter time) guards change each other to stand guard without moving for exactly an hour.
31.
Exactly at noon, the changing of the guard takes place with solemn musical accompaniment.
32.
During our observation of the changing of the guard one guy made single picket. Judging by the inscriptions on the poster, even without using a translator, one can understand that he has claims against the state, which allegedly took away his house and he asks for help and protests against lawlessness. That's it.
33.
You should definitely set aside a whole separate day for Prague Castle, because there are a lot of interesting places there and you want to consider everything thoroughly, and not just run for show. In the following posts I will show the details of the Cathedral of St. Vita, we will walk around the surroundings and gardens of Prague Castle. It will be interesting!)
Do you know why past eras are so attractive to many people? Of course, this is not a lack of hygiene and not the stinking streets of the cities of that time. This is not entertainment that has sunk into oblivion, such as hunting and knightly tournaments, although the latter, of course, were a very curious sight. But here are the palaces - the majestic buildings of past centuries!
Who has not dreamed at least once to be in the royal chambers or wander through the deserted corridors and halls? In this article, I will talk about where you can literally touch the history and view the castles from the inside. Moreover, you will not need to go anywhere, since many palaces are located right in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague. And for those who are very interested and go around all the proposed places, I can advise you to explore the castles outside the city. The Czech Republic is not such a big country, so there should not be any difficulties.
In total, there are about two and a half thousand castles and palaces of various eras in the Czech Republic with their own architectural and strategic features. This is due to the fact that the country is located in central Europe, which means it is an attractive object for neighboring states.
For those who wish, it is better to plan a trip to historical buildings in advance in order to get into a convenient language group with a trained guide. You can explore on your own interesting places, but in this case, you probably won't hear fascinating stories or local legends.
In this article, I will only talk about those palaces that I managed to see inside or at least outside. But you are not limited to this list, there are many more in Prague noteworthy castles.
Archbishop's Palace in Prague
architectural features
The palace was built in the late baroque style with elements of rococo. Under the building are the foundations of Romanesque houses, on the site of which it was built. The facade is decorated with pilasters, rococo vases and figures of ancient gods and goddesses. Above the windows of the second floor, you can see a relief depicting the Madonna and Child and the famous local Saint - John of Nepomuk (his sculpture can also be seen on the Charles Bridge).
What to see?
As already mentioned, the palace houses a branch of the National Museum. There is a permanent exhibition about the culture of Asia and ancient civilizations: Roman, Greek. It is also a platform for various temporary exhibitions. The family library of the Kinskys is also kept here.
Most of all, I liked the decoration of the facade of the building: openwork stucco, statues located on the roof, but most of all I was surprised by the color. Indeed, despite the pink shades, the building does not look frivolous. Just the opposite: solemn and majestic.
Royal Palace in Prague
It is also the Presidential Palace. Or, as it is also called in opposition to the Old, the New Royal Palace. According to tourists, it is here that the most beautiful halls throughout the complex where it is located. Outside, the building, in general, is ordinary, so the most attention goes to the central gate, which is served by a guard of honor. Quite a few people tend to take pictures with smartly dressed guardsmen. At first, I also had such a desire, but I changed my mind: I didn’t want to once again loom in front of a man with a weapon.
How to get
It is not so easy to get into the halls of this palace: access is limited. They are used to hold important diplomatic meetings with people invited by the president himself. If you have the opportunity to get into the building in this way, then you are in luck. For everyone else, there are special visiting days: Czech national holidays and special cases. Of the first, only two are distinguished - the Formation of the Czechoslovak Republic and the Day of Liberation from Nazism. The latter, I think, are also established by decision of the administration.
You can read more about ticket prices and how to get there at.
Address: Pražský hrad, 1, Hradčany, Praha 1, město Praha, 11800
A bit of history
The building was formed as a result of the reconstruction of several buildings. You may have already noticed that all the new owners are trying to bring something of themselves to the look of the palaces, and this one was no exception. During the reign of Maria Theresa, some of the halls acquired their modern look. Unfortunately, many works of art have not been preserved. As in the case of Wallenstein's garden sculptures, entire collections of paintings and other valuable items were seized by the Swedes and taken to Vienna, or even sold to those who wished for a penny. Only a small part of the surviving treasures of the Royal Palace is today kept in art gallery Prague Castle.
The palace used to be home to many rulers: Rudolf II, Maximilian II, Ferdinand III, Maria Theresa. T Now it is being dried as the residence of the President and the administration of the Czech Republic.
architectural features
The palace is designed in the Baroque style and has four wings: western, northern, southern and central. Guess which side of the world to find the last one? Obviously from the east.
What is interesting: during the reign of Rudolf II, the walls in many rooms were flat so that the maximum number of paintings could be hung on them. But after reconstruction in the 19th century, many walls were decorated with thematic or simply decorative reliefs.
What to see inside
If you're lucky, you might run into prominent political figures inside the building. But, I will make a reservation, if you are very lucky: the doors of the building are open on holidays, when absolutely everyone, including the president, has a day off. But besides interesting people, there is something to see here.
Throne room
Located in the south wing, it is intended for state events of special importance, for example, the appointment of a government, the assignment of the status of a professor to scientists, and so on. The decoration of the hall is rather strict: three crystal chandeliers, Persian carpets, canvases depicting the coronation of Ferdinand V.
Rudolf Gallery
Located in the north wing and created, logically, by Rudolf II to store his art collection. As already mentioned, during the reign of Rudolf, the walls in the 47-meter hall were flat and completely hung with paintings, but over time they were replaced by architectural decoration.
Spanish Hall
Also located in the north wing. Once upon a time, Spanish horses lived in the stables right under the hall, for which the room got its name. Initially, it was intended to store statues of Rudolf II, but when the government changed, it was converted into a dance hall. It is decorated with rich golden chandeliers, huge mirrors and relief ornaments. Currently, it is here that cultural state events are held.
Even on the street, I was interested in a well located in the Second Courtyard of Prague Castle (I marked it on the map of the palace above).
It is framed by a whimsical wrought-iron lattice crowned with a rose. I believe that in this way tourists are not allowed to test for themselves how far the bottom of the well is. But according to tradition, many people throw a coin there in order to return someday. I combined this ritual with a “voice” depth test, but I didn’t hear any sound indicating the end of the path: either the earth is at the bottom, or the distance is really very large.
Old royal palace in Prague
This palace is located in the middle part. It was here that Czech kings and princes lived until the 16th century. Now there are exhibitions about the history of Prague Castle.
How to get
You can read more about how to get to Prague Castle. There you can also find out about the cost of full and reduced tickets, as well as where you can get on them.
Doors for visitors are open from 9.00 to 17.00.
Address: Hrad III. nadvoří, 110 00 Prague.
A bit of history
The old royal palace was built in the 9th century in the Romanesque style as the residence of the princes. Over time, it has undergone restructuring, and appearance completely updated. Until the 16th century, the palace remained the residence of kings and princes, but over time it was abandoned. But in the 20th century, everything changed again. After a major overhaul, it was reopened to visitors. Here, since 1918, the presidential elections of the Czech Republic were held, and after the Second World War, important government meetings were held.
architectural features
Now the building most of all resembles the structure of the Renaissance. The remains of the Romanesque style are preserved only in the cellars. And the Vladislav Hall is an excellent example of Gothic: the interweaving of the edges of the vaults, the stairs of the riders, along which one could get into the hall directly on horseback.
What to see inside
Ludwik's wing
This is an outbuilding of the palace, created in 1509 specifically for the royal family. It is decorated in such a way that the Renaissance prevails on the outside, while the interior remains in the late Gothic style.
Vladislav Hall
This hall is truly enormous. The vault is decorated with a decoration in the form of flowers with six petals and rests on powerful buttresses (protruding parts of the wall), which is considered a rather bold decision. It was thanks to this design that the hall got rid of unnecessary supports in the center and became the largest secular room of that time. Many oaths, coronations and feasts took place within these walls. Right in the Vladislav Hall, due to its size, jousting tournaments were held.
chancery hall
Here the Austrian governors met, who played the role of the state administration of the Czech Republic. If I'm not mistaken, these managers were thrown out of the window into the time of the Revolt of the Estates in 1618. Now in the hall there is an exposition on the construction of the Prague Castle.
The walls of the hall are decorated with portraits of the Habsburgs, and above the door there is a picture with the plot of the siege of Prague. Here you can see preserved pieces of furniture. Commissions on the affairs of the Revolt of the Estates were held in this hall.
Also, don't neglect. Since all tickets are complex, visit the maximum of the proposed: St. Vitus Cathedral, observation deck on one of its towers, the Golden Lane and so on.
For example, I carefully examined almost all the buildings of the Prague Castle from the outside and noted for myself how different they are! I boldly declare that the Old Royal Palace is not like any building nearby, if you look closely. In addition, the ticket I bought for visiting the Golden Lane was complex and included a visit to this building. Although there was not much time that day, I managed to look at the Vladislav Hall at least out of the corner of my eye. It becomes a little scary from its size, so when you stand in the middle of this hulk, you involuntarily feel very small. Probably, there is a very strong echo, but, I confess, I did not have the courage to check it.
Czernin Palace in Prague
Many palaces in Prague have become government buildings, and this is no exception. Now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic is located here, so you can only admire the building from the outside.
How to get
You can take the tram to the stop "Pohořelec", "Hládkov" or "Brusnice".
Address: Hradčany, Praha 1, město Praha, 11800.
A bit of history
Count Jan Chernin, like many wealthy people, wanted to build his majestic palace. Of course, it was supposed to be the most beautiful and richest building in the city, so no money was spared for the construction. And when, due to debts associated with the palace, the Czerny family had to leave, the building was sold to a new owner and subject to restructuring. Then a baroque garden arose near the castle. At the end of the 18th century, the building was used for cultural events. Balls and other celebrations were also held here. Later, the palace served as an infirmary, a barracks, a haven for the poor. At the beginning of the 20th century, the building was remembered and reconstructed as close as possible to the original.
architectural features
This Baroque building is 150 meters long, making the Czernin Palace the longest Baroque castle in Prague. It is located opposite the Loretan Monastery, with which it is connected by a staircase. The building has two wings, and the same number of courtyards. The most noticeable part is the majestic semi-columns that stretch along the upper floors.
As I said, you won’t be able to get inside, so it remains to admire the external decoration of the palace. There is a legend that the building has as many windows as there are days in a year, so the especially meticulous can check it out.
There is also good news: following the Prague Castle, a garden near the palace was opened for visitors to visit on Sundays and public holidays. Free admission. The garden is located on two levels: fountains are located in the upper one, and a gazebo for relaxation is located in the lower one. I was not very upset when fish and other living creatures were not found in the fountains or nearby, as there is already enough interesting here.
In the center is a statue of Hercules fighting a dragon who was guarding the apples in the garden of the Hesperides. If you do not remember this legend, it's time to refresh your memory so that you can tell it to your relatives and friends upon your return and show photographs of the sculpture.
Why does the garden have such a two-level structure? The thing is that initially there was a sloping landscape, and the architects found a rather cunning way to fix it. In one part of the garden, there is a semblance of an English park with cut bushes and trees, and in the second, fountains. Here, right in the center of the city, you can sit on a bench, take a break from the hustle and bustle. Of course, if you choose the right day and time, as many people also want to get here.
Schwarzenberg Palace in Prague
Now the building houses expositions of branches National Museum.
How to get?
Exhibitions are open all days from 10.00 to 18.00 except Mondays. Full ticket can be bought for 150 CZK, and for students, schoolchildren and pensioners for 40 CZK. In addition, every first Wednesday of the month admission is free.
The Schwarzenberg Palace is located on Hradcany Square, right next to the Prague Castle. Therefore, you can read about how to get to it in.
Address: Hradčanské nam. 2, 118 00 Prague 1.
A bit of history
Like the Archbishop's Palace, the Schwarzenberg Palace was built on the site of philistine houses by order of Jan from Lobkowitz. Because of this, the palace was originally named Lobkovitsky. After repeated sales, the building fell into the hands of the Schwarzenbergs, at the same time it got new and me. After the power changed and the emperor moved to Vienna, many noble families left the Czech Republic, including the Schwarzenbergs: the palace was empty. In the 19th century, reconstruction was carried out, and since 1909 the premises of the palace were handed over to the National Museum. Currently, military-historical exhibitions are located here.
architectural features
This is a bright representative of the Renaissance. The black and white sgraffito painting is clearly visible on the walls. In addition, the palace resembles military castles: small windows resembling loopholes, massive gates that protect against intruders, a stone fence with battlements.
On the third floor of the building, ceilings with scenes from ancient Greek myths and Tuscan pilasters have been preserved.
What to see inside?
Since 2002, the palace has become the property of National Gallery Prague.
In 2008, expositions dedicated to the development of the Czech Baroque were opened here. The works of significant masters of this era are presented, the most prestigious sites are allocated for paintings by Jan Kupetsky, Karel Shkreta, Peter Brandl.
In 2011, an exhibition of historical weapons was opened.
Archaeological finds are presented in the basement of the museum. In addition, the tactile exhibition "Touching the Baroque" is open for the visually impaired.
I am ashamed to admit that the paintings are not very interesting to me, since only a few evoke strong emotions. But I really like to study various kinds of weapons. In this museum, you can even trace the evolution of some things: the improvement of armor and swords, the change in the length of the handles of axes and axes, and so on. For experts, most likely, there will be nothing new here, but just enthusiastic people can draw interesting information.
Sternberg Palace in Prague
This is a good example of the Prague Baroque. Currently, the palace is in the possession of the state, since the Sternbergs collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War. Now it is here that the main building of the National Gallery is located. Many works were returned to the heirs of the former owners.
How to get?
Entrance to the museum is carried out by tickets worth 150 kroons from 10.00 to 18.00 on all days except Monday. For schoolchildren, students and pensioners the price is reduced to 80 kroons.
Address: Hradčanské náměsti 15, Praha 1 - Hradčany.
A bit of history
Previously, there was a winter residence of Kaspar Sternberg, an Austrian botanist and theologian, built on the site of another burnt house - Lobkovitsky. For a long time, the Sternberg Palace was the center of scientific and cultural life Prague. In 1770, a scientific society was founded here, which eventually became the Royal Society. In 1811, the building was sold to the Society of Friends of Art, which made it possible to transform the palace into a gallery. Everyone could come and see the collection of works of art exhibited within these walls. But in 1871 the building passed to the asylum for the feeble-minded, which remained there until 1918. Then the Ministry of Defense became the owner, and in 1946 the palace became the property of the National Gallery.
architectural features
Many valuable frescoes have been preserved here, the restoration of which is ongoing to this day. The palace is a three-story building with a square courtyard in the middle and a garden adjacent to the west side.
The courtyard-oriented facades are richly decorated. In the middle of the courtyard stands a bronze statue of a lion defeating a snake.
The central entrance is decorated with an oval rotunda with semicircular windows and a family coat of arms.
The interior of the building is also richly decorated: stucco combined with paintings, mirrors on the ceilings, painstaking decoration of antique Chinese-style cabinets and salons, and so on.
What to see inside?
The palace houses antique expositions and an exhibition of European painting.
On the ground floor, canvases by German and Austrian artists are exhibited.
On the second floor there are exhibits from the personal collection of Archduke Ferdinand: works by artists, Daddy, paintings by Allori, icons by Italian masters.
The third floor presents masterpieces of painting by El Greco, Goya, Van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt and other European masters.
In addition to paintings, the museum also features sculptures.
If you, like me, are not a fan of painting, but a connoisseur of architecture, then just take a walk around the palace. Most of all I liked the rotunda, as it is a rather original solution for the Prague baroque. Unusual decorations above the windows seem strange and attract attention, but in general they fit well into the overall image.
I am sure that all this splendor will impress even if you do not understand art and architecture at all. You and I had a chance to touch history, look at things that someone created and used many hundreds of years ago, and the realization of this inspires respect.
Have something to add?
