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Prague Castle: historic center of power with royal artifacts, gardens, and St. Vitus Cathedral.
Prague Castle, the largest ancient castle complex in the world, sits atop a hill overlooking the city. This vast fortress includes St. Vitus Cathedral with its Gothic spires, the Old Royal Palace, and the colorful houses of Golden Lane. As you walk through the castle grounds, you'll see grand palaces, well-maintained gardens, and museums displaying Czech crown jewels, religious relics, and historical paintings.
The Prague Castle complex covers an area of 70,000 square meters, which is larger than seven football fields combined. When you enter through the main gates, you'll walk through a series of courtyards surrounded by buildings from different historical periods. The castle contains several palaces, churches, and towers built in Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. You can spend hours walking around the grounds, looking at Prague's red-tiled roofs from various viewpoints and exploring the many areas of this extensive complex.
St. Vitus Cathedral stands at the center of Prague Castle. Construction began in 1344 but wasn't finished until 1929, resulting in a combination of architectural styles. Inside, you'll find detailed stained glass windows, including works by Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha. The cathedral also houses the tombs of several Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors. If you're up for a climb, you can ascend the 287 steps of the cathedral's main tower for a 360-degree view of Prague.
Golden Lane is a narrow street lined with small, colorful houses within the castle complex. These dwellings were built in the 16th century to house castle guards and artisans. Some people believe alchemists once lived here, trying to turn base metals into gold for Emperor Rudolf II. Today, the houses have been restored and turned into small museums and shops. In house number 22, Franz Kafka lived and wrote for a short time in 1916-1917.
You can enter the castle complex daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The historical buildings are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (April to October) or 4:00 PM (November to March). You can buy tickets for different routes, allowing you to choose which areas you want to see. The basic tour includes St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, and Golden Lane. You can rent audio guides in several languages or join a guided tour to learn more about the castle's history and architecture.
After you've explored Prague Castle, you can walk around the surrounding Hradčany neighborhood. This area has several palaces and embassies, as well as cafes and restaurants where you can sit and think about your visit. From the castle, it's a short walk down to the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) and across the Charles Bridge to continue exploring Prague's historic center.
Charles Bridge: A historic stone bridge in Prague with 30 statues, linking Old Town to Lesser Town.
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague: a large Gothic church with royal tombs and St. Wenceslas Chapel.
Built in 1410, this medieval timepiece displays astronomical positions, seasons, and religious dates. Watch Death toll his bell as the Twelve Apostles parade through windows each hour.
Old Town Square in Prague has the historic Astronomical Clock, the Jan Hus Monument, and a mix of old and baroque buildings.
The Lennon Wall in Prague is known for peace, political voices, and history, filled with graffiti and hopeful messages.
Petrin Hill has a small Eiffel Tower lookalike, wide views, a funicular, gardens, an observatory, and an old church.
Vyšehrad: Prague fortress with scenic views, neo-Gothic church, and significant graves.
