Prague Castle

Prague Castle is actually a large building area, forming a large-scale building complex with churches, palaces and courtyards. In 1992, Prague Castle was selected for inclusion in the World Heritage List. Historical background Prague Castle was built in the 9th century and completed in the era of Charles IV in the 14th century. It was the residence and office of the Czech rulers in history. Now it is the official residence of the President of the Czech Republic, mainly used for foreign affairs. A guided tour of Prague Castle is a must-see for any visitor to Prague. The main entrance of the castle is on the west side. It is good to enter here when visiting. Every 12 noon, the changing of the guard ceremony will be held in the first atrium here, so it is also a place where many tourists are happy to stop. After passing through the Gate of Matthias, you will come to the second atrium. If you are a painting lover, you must not miss the Prague Castle Gallery. The gallery is located on the west side of the second atrium. It was originally the stables of the castle, and it is easier to be caught. Ignore that, the gallery displays the collection of Rudolf II throughout the year, including masterpieces by Titian, Aachen and Rubens. St. Vitus Cathedral enters the third atrium, and you will see the landmark of Prague Castle - St. Vitus Cathedral. The cathedral is magnificent. It is the largest and most important church in Prague, and it is also the resting place of the royal family after the coronation and death. The stained glass painted by Czech painter Alphonse Mucha is also worth seeing. The jewel of the town, the bohemian pure gold crown, is kept in the crown room of the St. Wenceslas Chapel in the cathedral. Also, don't forget to climb up to the 90-meter-high South Tower of the Church (tickets must be purchased separately), which has the largest clock in the Czech Republic and a magnificent view of Prague Castle. The Old Palace, which is close to the church, was once the residence of the Bohemian kings in the past. Among them, the Villadislav Hall built in the 15th and 16th centuries is not to be missed. The spacious hall can accommodate knights on horseback. And on the viewing promenade south of the hall you can overlook the beautiful view of Prague Castle Gardens. Continuing south, you can visit the Prague Castle Story Exhibition, a 40-minute documentary about the history of Prague Castle. The brick red building adjacent to St. George's Church is St. George's Church, an ancient two-story church that is considered a beautiful imitation Romanesque masterpiece in Bohemia. The frescoes in the church "Jerusalem of the Ceiling" and "The Coronation of the Virgin" are worth seeing. The adjoining St. George's Monastery houses a large collection of Renaissance works and is now managed by the Czech National Gallery. If you continue to move forward in the castle, you can come to the Golden Lane. The brightly-colored small houses on both sides of the road used to be their residences. Some of them are now mini museums, showing the daily life of servants and craftsmen at that time, and some are specialty shops. The writer Kafka also lived here, and Room 22, where he lived, is now a beautiful bookstore. Other attractions Continue along the Golden Lane and you may be attracted by a cute little pinwheel, the symbol of the Prague Toy Museum. Opposite the Toy Museum is the Rockowitz Palace. This 16th-century manor houses Canaletto's paintings, as well as manuscripts of Beethoven and Mozart. Friends who like painting and music may wish to pay a visit. let you down. At the end of the Golden Lane stands the Daliborka, which used to be the place where prisoners were held, and now there are torture instruments and weapons of that time on display for viewing. The large viewing platform next to the Dalibota Tower is where most tourists will stop. Here you can overlook the whole city of Prague. Prepare your camera and freeze the beauty of this "city of a thousand towers" forever. . After the visit, you can leave from the east gate of the castle, and you can also watch the sunset scenery of the Vltava River and Prague Old Town along the way.