Historians have found documents mentioning that a wooden palace used to stand on the site of the current castle in the 9th and 10th centuries, although it was probably not set exactly on the same location as today’s palace. The foundation stones of the Romanesque palace can be traced back to the reign of Sobeslav I, back to 1135. It was already connected to the All Saints Chapel on the eastern part, which was later rebuilt.
The palace gained its current outline in the course of two major construction periods: the construction work initiated by Charles IV in the 14th century, who wanted to create a prestigious palace, worthy of Prague’s status as the capital city of the Roman Empire; and later the work of Vladislas Jagiello after 1483.
We should also mention a partial reconstruction following a fire in the 16th century, and later some rearrangements in the 18th century under the rule of Maria Theresa.
Built under the rule of Vladislas Jagiello between 1492 and 1502, the most impressive area of the royal palace is the Vladislas Hall: a majestic ceremonial hall which was the largest vaulted room of the world at the time, set in a profane building (13m high, 62m long and 15m wide!). It is the work of the court architect Benedikt Ried, who managed to harmoniously combine adorning elements of the flamboyant Gothic with early Renaissance elements. Its vault is formed by an extraordinary web of ribs that create ornamental airy patterns in the form of roses.
All the greatest festive events of court life took place here: balls, meetings, coronation ceremonies, royal hearings, tournaments... Guests on horse could even enter it directly from the Riders Staircase. It is still used today for the presidential election and for important State ceremonies.
From the large Vladislas Hall you can accede to:
- the outside terrace that offers a beautiful view over the gardens and the Malá Strana District,
- the All Saints Church, rebuilt in the 16th century, which houses the St Procopius tomb
- the Louis wing, where you can find the meeting rooms of the Bohemian chancellery officers and the Imperial Council Room.
- the Diet, built in 1541, was inspired by the prestigious vaulted ceiling in the Vladislas Hall. It used to house meetings of the Diet around the Emperor, and you can notice how the seats were reserved for the electors according to their rank.
- the New Land Rolls Room on the upper level, contained records of the Diet’s debates. The walls and vaulted ceiling of the entrance room are adorned with coats of arms.
The oldest Romanesque and Gothic areas of the castle are located below the large Vladislas Hall and are also open to the public: they shelter a permanent exhibition that recounts the story of the Prague castle.
Prague Castle site (Pražský hrad)
Prague 1
www.hrad.cz
How to get there:
Tramway 22, stop "Pražský hrad"
Subway Green line A, station "Malostranská"
