St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle is one ...
Prague Castle: Complete Guide with Tickets
Get your tickets to the most popular monument of Prague at the best price, and find out how to visit it below.
Prague Castle, which rises from Hradčany Hill, is the most important landmark in Prague and a symbol of the Czech Republic.
The former seat of Bohemian kings, Holy Roman Emperors, and Austrian Emperors is still the political powerhouse of the country today, as it is the seat of government for the Czech president.
Prague Castle, dating back to the 9th century, holds countless attractions on an area of almost 7 hectares, including the Old Royal Palace, the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, and the Golden Lane. Not only churches, palaces, and parks are part of the majestic complex, but also some of Prague's most important museums.
A highlight of the UNESCO World Heritage Site is the changing of the palace guard and the illumination of the castle in the evening, which highlights the architectural splendor and is particularly beautifully.
How Do I Get to the Castle?
The easiest way to get to Prague Castle by public transport is to take streetcar line 22.
You can take it from the Old Town to the Pražský hrad (Prague Castle) station.
Admission: The visit to the courtyards of the castle complex is free of charge. To see the attractions from the inside, you have to choose between three ticket options.
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Admission, Tickets, and Guided Tours
Visitors who want to see some of the numerous sights in Prague Castle from the inside need an entrance ticket. This includes admission to St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, the Golden Lane and St. George's Basilica. The ticket is valid for two consecutive days. Note that each attraction can be visited only once.
Additionally, there are individual tickets for the south tower of St. Vitus Cathedral with the observation terrace, for the "The History of Prague Castle" and "St. Vitus Treasure" exhibitions, and for the Prague Castle Picture Gallery.
As there is always a big crowd in front of the ticket counters on site, it is recommended to buy an online ticket in advance to avoid unnecessary waiting times.
Prague Castle Tickets
More Interesting places
Daliborka Tower in the Castle
Daliborka Tower at the eastern end of the Golden Lane dates back to 1496 and served as a prison until 1781. The fortified tower, named after its first prisoner, Dalibor of Kozojedy, is particularly famous for its dungeon. The tower is part of the tour A and B.
Queen Anne's Pleasure Palace
One of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Central Europe awaits visitors in the King's Garden, Queen Anne's pleasure palace. The Bohemian King Ferdinand I had it built for his wife Anne Jagiello from 1538 to 1560. Today it is often used for exhibitions.
Prague Castle Ballroom
The Ballroom in the Prague Castle stands on the south side of the Royal Garden. Today it opens its doors for exhibitions, concerts, and special occasions. In the 16th century, at the time of its creation, it was the venue of popular ball games and the third ballroom built for this purpose within Prague Castle.
Orangery of the Castle
Built according to the plans of architect Eva Jiřičná, the orangery was opened in 1999 and is the youngest building in the Royal Garden. The almost 90 m long cylindrical glass and metal greenhouse stands out with a modern design and replaces the old orangery from the 17th century.
Tower of St. Vitus Cathedral
The 99-meter-high south tower of St. Vitus Cathedral rewards its visitors with a wonderful view of Prague and its surroundings. It was built in the 14th century according to plans by Peter Parler. Climbing the 287 stairs also opens a view of the tower's bells, including "Sigmund", the largest bell in the Czech Republic.
Riding Hall of the Castle
The imposing riding hall at the Prague Castle from the 17th century impresses with its Baroque facade decorated with stucco reliefs. It is located on U Prašného mostu street. From 1948 to 1949 the former riding school was transformed into exhibition halls. Since then, exhibitions have been held here from time to time.
Painting Gallery of the Castle
In the 2nd courtyard of the castle is the Picture Gallery, which displays the famous art collection of Emperor Rudolf II. In total, the collection includes about 4000 works. 100 of the most valuable paintings are on display. These include works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Titian, and also Czech artists such as Škréta.
Imperial Horse Stable
The Imperial Stables were built in 1583 at the behest of Emperor Rudolf II, who was a passionate horse lover. In the 20th century, the stable was converted for exhibition purposes. Occasionally, the Imperial Horse Stable also serves as a venue for concerts.
Parks In The Castle
Paradise Garden
Paradise Garden in front of the southern front of the castle was built by order of the Archduke of Austria, Ferdinand II, in 1562. Emperor Rudolf II and his brother Matthias also used and designed the garden. Worth seeing are especially the imposing granite bowl in the middle of the lawn and the massive staircase.
King's Garden
Emperor Ferdinand I had the Royal Garden built in 1534 on the site of an old medieval vineyard. In addition to exotic plants and botanical splendors, the Renaissance garden is characterized by numerous structures built for the entertainment of courtly society.
Garden on the Redoubt
The name of this garden comes from the fortification wall that used to be on the south side of the castle, where the first gardens were later laid out. The wall, which was built around the garden in 1849, still stands today. The absolute highlight is the terrace, which offers a magnificent view of Prague.
Hartig's Garden
Hartig's Garden was added to the garden on the redoubt in the 1960s. Along with the Paradise Garden, they form the southern gardens of Prague Castle. Hartig's Garden owes its current design mainly to the architects, Adolf Beneš and Richard Podzemný.
Deer Moat
The Deer Moat is a natural gorge in the area of Prague Castle. The name is due to the fact that under Emperor Rudolf II, big game, such as deer were kept here for hunting purposes. In the summer season, the Deer Moat with a total area of 8 hectares can be visited free of charge.
Garden on the Bastion
The garden on the bastion refers by its name to the remains of the medieval fortification that were discovered here. The garden is located on the western edge of the castle and was redesigned by the castle architect, Josip Plečnik in the course of the reconstruction project during the 20th century.
Changing of the Guard
A special highlight for many visitors is the ceremonial changing of the guard at Prague Castle. It is particularly pompous and is especially great. The changing of the guard takes place once a day. With its military ceremony, accompanied by drums and fanfare, it attracts a large audience every day. The guards in their blue parade uniforms are a popular photo motif for tourists.
Changing of The Guard Location
The ceremonial changing of the guard takes place in the I courtyard of Prague Castle, the so-called Court of Honor. It forms the entrance to the Prague Castle premises from the west, the Castle Square (Hradčanské náměstí). A large grid separates the two areas.
Time: The great changing of the guard has taken place every day since 1990 at 12 o'clock sharp in the square of honor. A simple changing of the castle guard takes place every hour on the hour at the entrances to the castle.
Dining in Prague Castle
In the historical ambience of Prague Castle, numerous restaurants and cafes invite you to dine and linger. Whether it's traditional Czech cuisine, international dishes or delicious snacks and desserts. Here, we introduce you to some of the most popular places in the Prague Castle area
Restaurants, Cafes and Pubs
History of Prague Castle
Prague Castle was founded around the year 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid dynasty. The first building to be built was the Church of St. Mary. In the 10th century followed St. George's Basilica, the Benedictine monastery of the same name, and the church of St. Vitus. In the following centuries many magnificent buildings were added, such as the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, and Vladislav Hall.
After the devastating fire of 1541, large parts of the castle had to be rebuilt. The castle experienced a heyday under Emperor Rudolf II, who made the castle his headquarters in 1583 and had it expanded. The 2nd Defenestration of Prague in 1618 heralded the Thirty Years' War and the 400-year rule of the Habsburgs.
After World War I, Prague Castle and its gardens were remodeled by architect Jože Plečnik. Since 1918, the castle has been the seat of the Czech President.
The three most important periods of the Prague Castle development were the following.
3 Main Periods
Contact
Address:
Prague Castle (Pražský hrad), Hradčany, 119 08 Praha 1, Czech Republic
E-Mail:
info@hrad.cz
Phone:
+420 224 372 423, +420 224 372 419
websıte:
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