Prague Castle

From a distance we can see Prague Castle. The complex actually holds four castles, built from the 9th to the 18th centuries. It is the largest ancient castle complex in the world. The four castles include the old royal palace, Queen Anne’s summer palace, the Lobkowicz Palace and the new royal palace. There are also a number of other churches and buildings on site.

We had a closer view as we approached the castle complex.

It was once surrounded by a green moat – not quite water with alligators, but the exposure was still able to be a deterrent to aggressors.

We passed the guards of the Prague Castle.

Their uniforms were designed by the same man who won an Oscar for the movie Amadeus. He was a Czech immigrant.

The gold star at the top of the cylindrical building means the Czech President is in the country. Currently, the castle complex houses the official office for the President. It had previously been the home for kings of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperors.

The St. Vitus Basilica was founded in the 10th century by Duke Wenceslaus.

There have been three evolutions of the St. Vitus Basilica on the site.

The current gothic style church was started in 1344 by King Charles IV and was not completed until the 20th century.

It remains the most important cathedral in the Czech Republic and many former kings and Holy Roman emperors are entombed there.

There are many side chapels in tribute to different peoples and saints.

A new organ from Spain will be installed soon. It has been in the country for a year but they found the balcony needed to be strengthened before it could be placed.

That will happen 100 years after the rest was finished. The flying buttresses are of the French gothic style on St. Vita Cathedral.

The clock above the main entrance shows the hour hand above, and the minute hand below.

The royal palace was rebuilt In the 14th century, under Charles IV. This section shows the architecture of the old palace before the rest was sheathed to look alike.

There was a covered walkway between the royal palace and the cathedral.

The building on the left is Saint George Church. It is the oldest church in the complex being from the 12th century. The building on the right was named for Maria Teresa, Queen of Bohemia and Hungary from 1740-1780. The building provided accommodations for Nobel Ladies who were not married.

This palace is now used for Presidential Offices, not for a presidential home.

After the great betrayal, Czech President Emil Hacha had to negotiate to hand over his country to Nazi Germany. He suffered a heart attack during the negotiations on March 15, 1939. Later, Adolf Hitler proudly spent a night in Prague Castle.

In addition to the public access buildings in the Prague Castle Complex, there is one privately owned building – the Lobkowicz Palace. The palace was started in the 16th century by one brother and then completed by the next.

The daughter of the second brother, Polyxena, married her first husband who died shortly after. A few years later she married the First Prince Lobkowicz.

The galleries in the castle show their private collection of art and explain the family dynasty.

The Lobkowicz family was one of the wealthiest in the country under the Hapsburg dynasty. They were forced to flea the Nazis in 1939 when the palace was confiscated.

After the fall of Communism in 1989, there was a twelve year restitution process to return the castle to the Lobkowicz family. After restoration and refurbishing, the palace opened as the Lobkowicz Palace Museum.

After lunch at the castle, we enjoyed a concert.

We were able to enjoy views of Prague from the balconies in the castle complex.

The buildings with red roofs were the original footprint of medieval Prague.

The Rolling Stones played several concerts at Prague Castle after the fall of communism, becoming friends with Czech leaders.

The Stones paid $32,000 for illuminating Prague Castle for the enjoyment of the city residents and visitors. Photo credit to Connie who stays up much later than we do!