Prague

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Prague Castle

Hradčanské námêstí, Prague 1

Founded around AD 870 by Přemysl princes, this impressive if sombre collection of buildings has been extended, torn down and rebuilt over the centuries. The final touches, including the present shape of St Vitus’s Cathedral, were not added until the early 1900s, thus it feels like an enormous festival of architectural styles, stretching back to the Romanesque. The grandiose façade enclosing the complex is down to Empress Maria Theresa’s desire for coherence but the outcome of Nicolo Pacassi’s monotonous concept is uninspiring. Václav Havel did his best to enliven the palace, opening it to the public and hiring the costume designer from the film Amadeus to remodel the guards’ uniforms.

There’s no charge to enter the grounds, but you need a ticket for the Old Royal Palace, the Basilica of St George, the Golden Lane, the Powder Tower and the choir, crypt and tower of St Vitus’s Cathedral (except Jan-Apr & Oct-Dec, when the tower is closed and the Golden Lane is free). Entrance to the art collection of St George’s Convent and the Toy Museum is extra. There are a handful of adequate cafés within the castle complex, if you don’t mind paying double the usual prices.

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