Gate of Giants at Prague Castle
Gate of Giants at Prague Castle
Start your tour of Prague Castle at the Gate of Giants, or Giants' Gate. This gate opens into the enormous Castle Square. Its main feature is a pair of giants, one raising a knife, the other a club, against defeated enemies. The original 18th century sculptures have been replaced by more weather-resilient copies. The fence on either side of the gate showcases symbolic figures important to Czech heritage.
Pass through the Gate of Giants into the First Courtyard of Prague Castle.
First Courtyard and Matthias' Gate
In the First Courtyard across from the Giants' Gate stands Matthias' Gate. Matthias' Gate was a freestanding structure when it was built in the early 17th century by Matthias II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia at that time. Matthias' Gate is flanked by two tall wooden flagpoles that fly the flag of the Czech Republic.
It is in the First Courtyard that visitors to Prague can witness the changing of the guards.
The changing of the guard occurs every hour on the hour from 5am to 11pm. The changing of the guard at noon, however, is the most elaborate of these displays. Take the opportunity to witness the changing of the guard when you visit Prague Castle, or pay a visit to the castle to view the ceremony at noon.
Pass through Matthias' Gate to the Second Courtyard.
Second Courtyard and the Prague Castle Picture Gallery
The Second Courtyard of Prague Castle contains a fountain and an enclosed well. It is older than the First Courtyard of Prague Castle and occupies the former site of a moat. To your left, you will notice the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, which used to be a former stables. Tickets are usually required for the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, but it is free to enter every Monday from 4pm to 6pm. An information desk can be found adjacent to the Prague Castle Picture Gallery.
State rooms are contained in the remainder of the North Wings of Prague Castle - this is part of what is called the New Palace. These rooms, which include the Rudolph Gallery and the Spanish Hall, are only open to the public twice a year - in May, on the Day of Liberation from Fascism, and in October, on the Day of the Foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic. The North Gate in the North Wings of the New Palace leads to gardens. The Prague Castle Gardens are open from April to October and are free to visit.
To your right, you'll see the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It is now an information center. You can buy tickets to Prague Castle structures and rent the Prague Castle audio tour here.
Directly ahead is the Central Wing of the New Palace. Pass through the Central Wing to the Third Courtyard.
Third Courtyard of Prague Castle
St. Vitus Cathedral is the first structure you will encounter upon entry into the Third Courtyard. This elegant Gothic structure is one of the highlights of Prague, and every visitor to the city should take time to see its interior. St. Vitus Cathedral is free to enter, and if you rent a Prague Castle audio tour, you will be admitted without having to wait in line.
The exterior of St. Vitus Cathedral has many significant features.
Its west-facing facade sports an enormous rose window, which is resplendent with stained glass insets, over the central doorway. The history of the cathedral is told in bronze on this doorway, and a pediment carved with a relief scene of the Crucifixion hangs over it.
If you walk around to the right side of the Third Courtyard, you will be able to see the elements of the south facade of St. Vitus Cathedral. A 16th century clock keeps time with two dials - the greater dial indicates the hour, the smaller one, below, indicates minutes. The Golden Door, capped by a glittering mosaic depicting the Last Judgment, was once the main entrance to the Cathedral. The squat building in front of St. Vitus Cathedral is the Old Provost's House, which used to be a bishop's palace.
The obelisk in the Third Courtyard is a memorial to WWII victims.
The south side of the Third Courtyard is flanked by the South Wing of the New Palace. A statue of St. George faces the entrance of the New Palace.
Continue north through the Third Courtyard until you reach a double-arched gate that links St.
Vitus Cathedral to the Old Royal Palace.
Note: To the north of St. Vitus Cathedral is Vikarska Street, which leads to the Powder Tower. If you wish to visit the Powder Tower, you can either do so before you tour the rest of Prague Castle, or you can double back and visit the Powder Tower later.
The Old Royal Palace
The Old Royal Palace has a long history, some of which is illustrated for visitors in the exhibit "The Story of Prague Castle." If you purchase a ticket, you can visit the Old Royal Palace and this exhibition, which will show you aspects of the centuries' old structure - including the way it looked in its earliest form and archeological finds that offer insight into how life at Prague Castle used to be lived.
The Old Royal Palace dates to the 12th century, though renovations have caused its look to change. It has been used for coronations and other royal events, as well as for administrative and residential purposes. Vladislav Hall, when it was built in the 16th century, was the largest non-religious hall in Europe during that time. It was so large that riders on horseback could enter it from the aptly named Riders' Staircase. Today, Vladislav Hall serves as a location for ceremonial events.
Your tour of Prague Castle will next take you to St. George's Square.
St. George's Square, Basilica, and Convent at Prague Castle
The red-fronted building on the north end of St. George's Square is St. George's Basilica, and St. George's Convent neighbors it. If you have a ticket, you can enter St. George's Basilica, where you will see the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. The basilica is also significant because it contains the tombs of members of the Premyslid Dynasty, who ruled the Bohemian lands from the 10th to the 14th centuries.
St. George's Convent today is a part of the Prague National Gallery. When it was a working convent, however, it attracted women from the most elite sectors of society. As a result, abesses belonging to St. George's Convent were given the right to crown the queens of Bohemia.
Walk east down Jirska Street. Next stop is Golden Lane.
Golden Lane at Prague Castle
Follow Jirska Street past St. George's Basilica until you reach the entry to Golden Lane on your left. At this point, you will have to present a ticket to enter (Golden Lane is included on both the short and long tour versions of tickets). Golden Lane is a colorful medieval street at the back of Prague Castle that today contains shops. An armory exhibit can be reached by a set of stairs and runs part of the length of the lane.
You can also shoot a crossbow here and try to win a prize.
Number 22, a house with a blue exterior, is one of the most famous and recognizable houses on Golden Lane, due to its association with Franz Kafka, who wrote some of his stories in this house.
Spend some time in Golden Lane before continuing on to Daliborka Tower, connected to Golden Lane by a set of steps.
Note: Golden Lane will close for renovations April 2010 and will remain closed for at least 12 months.
Daliborka Tower at Prague Castle
Daliborka Tower was used as a prison and now houses an exhibition of torture instruments. You can also see torture instruments at the Prague Torture Museum in Old Town. Entry into Daliborka Tower is included in both long and short tour tickets with entry into Golden Lane.
You have traversed Prague Castle from west to east, and there is only a little further to go. The easternmost section of Prague Castle can be identified by two structures: the Black Tower and the Lobkowicz Palace.
After viewing Daliborka tower, loop around the east end of Prague Castle and follow Jirska Street for a short way. The long building to the south is the Lobkowicz Palace, the only privately owned structure in the Prague Castle complex. Tickets must be purchased for entry, and a free audio tour is available. The exhibition "The Princely Collection" features pieces from the Lobkowicz family collection of art, instruments, arms and armor, and more.
Across from the Lobkowicz Palace is the Black Tower, where debtors were once imprisoned. It is attached to the Burgrave's House, where the king's deputy and his family once lived. The Burgrave's House contains the Toy Museum.
If you haven't yet visited it, find your way back to the Third Courtyard for access to the Powder Tower.
Visiting the Powder Tower will take you out of the way of some of Prague Castle's major sights, so you may want to double back and visit the Powder Tower when it is most convenient to you. It can be reached by Vikarska Street, which runs along the north side of St. Vitus Cathedral. The Powder Tower, once a laboratory for alchemists and later a storehouse for gunpowder, now features exhibitions from the Military History Institute. A ticket is required for entry into the Powder Tower. This can be purchased separately or is included with purchase of the long tour ticket.
Start your tour of Prague Castle at the Gate of Giants, or Giants' Gate. This gate opens into the enormous Castle Square. Its main feature is a pair of giants, one raising a knife, the other a club, against defeated enemies. The original 18th century sculptures have been replaced by more weather-resilient copies. The fence on either side of the gate showcases symbolic figures important to Czech heritage.
Pass through the Gate of Giants into the First Courtyard of Prague Castle.
First Courtyard and Matthias' Gate
In the First Courtyard across from the Giants' Gate stands Matthias' Gate. Matthias' Gate was a freestanding structure when it was built in the early 17th century by Matthias II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Hungary, Croatia, and Bohemia at that time. Matthias' Gate is flanked by two tall wooden flagpoles that fly the flag of the Czech Republic.
It is in the First Courtyard that visitors to Prague can witness the changing of the guards.
The changing of the guard occurs every hour on the hour from 5am to 11pm. The changing of the guard at noon, however, is the most elaborate of these displays. Take the opportunity to witness the changing of the guard when you visit Prague Castle, or pay a visit to the castle to view the ceremony at noon.
Pass through Matthias' Gate to the Second Courtyard.
Second Courtyard and the Prague Castle Picture Gallery
The Second Courtyard of Prague Castle contains a fountain and an enclosed well. It is older than the First Courtyard of Prague Castle and occupies the former site of a moat. To your left, you will notice the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, which used to be a former stables. Tickets are usually required for the Prague Castle Picture Gallery, but it is free to enter every Monday from 4pm to 6pm. An information desk can be found adjacent to the Prague Castle Picture Gallery.
State rooms are contained in the remainder of the North Wings of Prague Castle - this is part of what is called the New Palace. These rooms, which include the Rudolph Gallery and the Spanish Hall, are only open to the public twice a year - in May, on the Day of Liberation from Fascism, and in October, on the Day of the Foundation of the Czechoslovak Republic. The North Gate in the North Wings of the New Palace leads to gardens. The Prague Castle Gardens are open from April to October and are free to visit.
To your right, you'll see the Chapel of the Holy Cross. It is now an information center. You can buy tickets to Prague Castle structures and rent the Prague Castle audio tour here.
Directly ahead is the Central Wing of the New Palace. Pass through the Central Wing to the Third Courtyard.
Third Courtyard of Prague Castle
St. Vitus Cathedral is the first structure you will encounter upon entry into the Third Courtyard. This elegant Gothic structure is one of the highlights of Prague, and every visitor to the city should take time to see its interior. St. Vitus Cathedral is free to enter, and if you rent a Prague Castle audio tour, you will be admitted without having to wait in line.
The exterior of St. Vitus Cathedral has many significant features.
Its west-facing facade sports an enormous rose window, which is resplendent with stained glass insets, over the central doorway. The history of the cathedral is told in bronze on this doorway, and a pediment carved with a relief scene of the Crucifixion hangs over it.
If you walk around to the right side of the Third Courtyard, you will be able to see the elements of the south facade of St. Vitus Cathedral. A 16th century clock keeps time with two dials - the greater dial indicates the hour, the smaller one, below, indicates minutes. The Golden Door, capped by a glittering mosaic depicting the Last Judgment, was once the main entrance to the Cathedral. The squat building in front of St. Vitus Cathedral is the Old Provost's House, which used to be a bishop's palace.
The obelisk in the Third Courtyard is a memorial to WWII victims.
The south side of the Third Courtyard is flanked by the South Wing of the New Palace. A statue of St. George faces the entrance of the New Palace.
Continue north through the Third Courtyard until you reach a double-arched gate that links St.
Vitus Cathedral to the Old Royal Palace.
Note: To the north of St. Vitus Cathedral is Vikarska Street, which leads to the Powder Tower. If you wish to visit the Powder Tower, you can either do so before you tour the rest of Prague Castle, or you can double back and visit the Powder Tower later.
The Old Royal Palace
The Old Royal Palace has a long history, some of which is illustrated for visitors in the exhibit "The Story of Prague Castle." If you purchase a ticket, you can visit the Old Royal Palace and this exhibition, which will show you aspects of the centuries' old structure - including the way it looked in its earliest form and archeological finds that offer insight into how life at Prague Castle used to be lived.
The Old Royal Palace dates to the 12th century, though renovations have caused its look to change. It has been used for coronations and other royal events, as well as for administrative and residential purposes. Vladislav Hall, when it was built in the 16th century, was the largest non-religious hall in Europe during that time. It was so large that riders on horseback could enter it from the aptly named Riders' Staircase. Today, Vladislav Hall serves as a location for ceremonial events.
Your tour of Prague Castle will next take you to St. George's Square.
St. George's Square, Basilica, and Convent at Prague Castle
The red-fronted building on the north end of St. George's Square is St. George's Basilica, and St. George's Convent neighbors it. If you have a ticket, you can enter St. George's Basilica, where you will see the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. The basilica is also significant because it contains the tombs of members of the Premyslid Dynasty, who ruled the Bohemian lands from the 10th to the 14th centuries.
St. George's Convent today is a part of the Prague National Gallery. When it was a working convent, however, it attracted women from the most elite sectors of society. As a result, abesses belonging to St. George's Convent were given the right to crown the queens of Bohemia.
Walk east down Jirska Street. Next stop is Golden Lane.
Golden Lane at Prague Castle
Follow Jirska Street past St. George's Basilica until you reach the entry to Golden Lane on your left. At this point, you will have to present a ticket to enter (Golden Lane is included on both the short and long tour versions of tickets). Golden Lane is a colorful medieval street at the back of Prague Castle that today contains shops. An armory exhibit can be reached by a set of stairs and runs part of the length of the lane.
You can also shoot a crossbow here and try to win a prize.
Number 22, a house with a blue exterior, is one of the most famous and recognizable houses on Golden Lane, due to its association with Franz Kafka, who wrote some of his stories in this house.
Spend some time in Golden Lane before continuing on to Daliborka Tower, connected to Golden Lane by a set of steps.
Note: Golden Lane will close for renovations April 2010 and will remain closed for at least 12 months.
Daliborka Tower at Prague Castle
Daliborka Tower was used as a prison and now houses an exhibition of torture instruments. You can also see torture instruments at the Prague Torture Museum in Old Town. Entry into Daliborka Tower is included in both long and short tour tickets with entry into Golden Lane.
You have traversed Prague Castle from west to east, and there is only a little further to go. The easternmost section of Prague Castle can be identified by two structures: the Black Tower and the Lobkowicz Palace.
After viewing Daliborka tower, loop around the east end of Prague Castle and follow Jirska Street for a short way. The long building to the south is the Lobkowicz Palace, the only privately owned structure in the Prague Castle complex. Tickets must be purchased for entry, and a free audio tour is available. The exhibition "The Princely Collection" features pieces from the Lobkowicz family collection of art, instruments, arms and armor, and more.
Across from the Lobkowicz Palace is the Black Tower, where debtors were once imprisoned. It is attached to the Burgrave's House, where the king's deputy and his family once lived. The Burgrave's House contains the Toy Museum.
If you haven't yet visited it, find your way back to the Third Courtyard for access to the Powder Tower.
Visiting the Powder Tower will take you out of the way of some of Prague Castle's major sights, so you may want to double back and visit the Powder Tower when it is most convenient to you. It can be reached by Vikarska Street, which runs along the north side of St. Vitus Cathedral. The Powder Tower, once a laboratory for alchemists and later a storehouse for gunpowder, now features exhibitions from the Military History Institute. A ticket is required for entry into the Powder Tower. This can be purchased separately or is included with purchase of the long tour ticket.
