Prague Castle

Start: The castle's front entrance, at Hradcanské námestí.

Finish: Daliborka Tower.

Time: Allow approximately 2 1/2 hours, not including rest stops.

Best Times: Weekdays from 9am to 5pm (to 4pm Nov-Mar).

Worst Times: Weekends, when the crowds are thickest.

The history and development of Prague Castle and the city of Prague are inextricably entwined; it's impossible to envision one without the other. Popularly known as the "Hrad," Prague Castle dates to the second half of the 9th century, when the first Czech royal family, the Premyslids, moved their seat of government here. Settlements on both sides of the Vltava developed under the protection of the fortified castle.

Begin your tour from the castle's front entrance at Hradcanské námestí. Walk through the imposing rococo gateway, topped by the colossal Battling Giants statues (1911 copies of 18th-c. granite works), to the:

1. First Castle Courtyard (První hradní nádvorí)

An informal changing of the guard occurs here daily on the hour. It involves only five guards doing little more than some impressive heel clicking and rifle twirling. The guards wore rather drab khaki outfits until 1989, when Václav Havel asked costume designer Theodor Pistek, who costumed the actors in the film Amadeus, to redress them. Their smart new blue outfits were reminiscent of those worn during the First Republic.

Directly ahead is the:

2. Matthias Gateway (Matyásova brána)

Built in 1614 as a free-standing gate, it was later incorporated into the castle itself. The gateway bears the coats of arms of the various lands ruled by Emperor Matthias. Once you pass through it, you'll see a stairway on the right leading to the staterooms of the president of the republic. They're closed to the public.

The gateway leads into the Second Castle Courtyard (Druhé hradní nádvorí). Ahead, on the eastern side of the square, is the:

3. Holy Rood Chapel (Kaple sv. Kríze)

Originally constructed in 1763, this chapel was redesigned in 1856. The chapel is noted for its high-altar sculpture and ceiling frescoes.

On the western side of the courtyard is the opulent:

4. Spanish Hall (Spanelský sál)

This hall was built in the late 16th century. During 1993 restorations, officials at the castle discovered a series of 18th-century trompe-l'oeil murals that lay hidden behind the mirrors lining the hall's walls.

Adjoining the Spanish Hall is the:

5. Rudolf Gallery (Rudolfova galerie)

This official reception hall once housed the art collections of Rudolf II. The last remodeling of this space -- rococo-style stucco decorations -- occurred in 1868.

On the northern side of the square is the:

6. Picture Gallery of Prague Castle (Obrazárna Prazského hradu)

Containing both European and Bohemian masterpieces, the gallery holds few works from the original imperial collection, which was virtually destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. Of the works that have survived from the days of Emperors Rudolf II and Ferdinand III, the ...

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