The Old Royal Palace has been the historic seat of Bohemia’s sovereigns since the 12th century, before central power was transferred to the castle’s newer wings. It is an exceptional group of historic rooms dominated by the majestic Vladislav Hall, the largest secular hall in medieval Europe.
A first wooden palace dating back to the 9th and 10th centuries has been attested on the site of Prague Castle, slightly offset from its current location. The stone foundations of the Romanesque palace date back to the reign of Soběslav I from 1135. The Chapel of All Saints was associated with it to the east.
Two decisive construction periods largely shaped the current appearance of the royal palace: the work initiated by Charles IV in the 14th century and that of Vladislas Jagellon after 1483. There was also a partial reconstruction after a fire in the 16th century, and refurbishments in the 18th century during the reign of Maria Theresa.
Built during the reign of Vladislas Jagellon between 1492 and 1502, the most impressive feature of the Royal Palace is the Vladislav Hall, a majestic ceremonial hall of exceptional dimensions for its time (13 m high, 62 m long and 15 m wide!). The work of court architect Benedikt Ried, it combines flamboyant Gothic and early Renaissance decorative elements. Its vault is made up of an extraordinary network of ribs forming aerial decorative motifs in the form of rosettes.
The greatest festive events of court life took place here: balls, assemblies, coronations, royal audiences, tournaments... Guests on horseback could even access it directly from the knights’ staircase. It is still used today as the setting for major state ceremonies.
From the Vladislav Hall, you can access :
- the outdoor terrace offering a magnificent view of the gardens and the Malá Strana district,
- the Louis Wing, which houses the meeting rooms of the officers of the Bohemian Chancellery and the Imperial Council Chamber,
- the Diet Hall, built in 1541 on the model of the vaulted Vladislav Hall. It was here that the Diet met around the Emperor, and the seating arrangement can be seen to be very hierarchical according to the rank of the electors,
- the register rooms upstairs, where the deliberations of the Diet were recorded. The walls and vaulting of the entrance hall are decorated with numerous coats of arms.
The oldest Romanesque and Gothic areas of the castle beneath the great Vladislav Hall are also open to the public, where there is a permanent exhibition on the history of Prague Castle.
If you want to visit Prague Castle with an English-speaking guide, you can book our guided tour of Prague Castle with private guide.
