Prague Castle

Prague Castle is recorded as being one of the biggest castles in the world. Many prominent officials have held office here, such as Czech kings and Roman emperors. There are many buildings, churches, gardens and palaces located in the castle. They have varying architectural styles from different times in history.

The crown jewels of the Bohemian kingdom are displayed once every fifty years. They are kept in Prague Castle for the remainder of time. The crown of Saint Wenceslas is the most prominent among the crown jewels. It was made in 1347 for Charles IV's coronation. It was dedicated to the patron saint Saint Wenceslas. It was later passed down to be used as a state crown for Czech kings. The crown itself is decorated with precious stones, with some registering as the biggest in the world. The components include sapphires, emeralds, pearls and rubies.

Prague Castle is home to a wide assortment of churches. One such church is the Saint Vitus Cathedral, which is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. It is considered as the most important church in all of Prague. In terms of architecture, it uses a Gothic style typical of the medieval period. It has many tombs from past Bohemian Kings. A prominent place in the cathedral is Saint Wenceslas Chapel. Precious stones adorn the place. It is here where the relics of Saint Wenceslas are kept. There is a wide assortment of paintings, some related to the Passion of Christ and the life of Saint Wenceslas. A gothic style statue of Saint Wenceslas is also displayed.

Another prominent church located in Prague Castle is Saint George's Basilica, which is the oldest church in Prague. The Ludmila of Bohemia, a gothic style chapel, lies host to the tomb of Saint Ludmila. This is now used as a concert hall during the evenings.

The Summer Shakespeare Festival takes place inside Prague Castle. It is located in the Burgrave Palace courtyards. The festival was started by Vaclav Havel, a Czech writer and dramatist. Some of the more popular performances include King Lear, directed by Martin Huba.

There are many grounds littered all over Prague Castle. It is quite possible to walk through the gardens and tour around the castle. One such garden is the Garden on the Ramparts, which was developed as a natural park in the 19th century. The Hartig Garden is another prominent one. It is equipped with a music pavilion for use in some events.

There are many places of note in Prague Castle. Located near Powder Bridge in Prague Castle is the Imperial Stables. It was converted into an exhibition room to display works of creative art. Golden Lane is an area used as dwellings by castle servants in the past. Great care has been exercised to avoid too much change to ensure that the character of the area is unchanged.

The Old Royal Palace was originally used as a palace by Prince Sobeslav in the 12th century. The palace, especially the underground parts, was mostly preserved. Located inside the palace is the Vladislav Hall. This was used for royal state purposes. Typical happenings include coronation celebrations, banquets and open markets. Also to be seen is the All Saints Church, a Roman palace chapel. Located on the northern part of the church is the tomb of Saint Procopius.