Palaces, Churches, Museums
From St. Vitus’s to Golden Lane
The origins of Prague’s Castle District can be traced to the 9th century. The castle complex was a seat of European rulers – Czech kings and Holy Roman Emperors. The first stone edifice was the Church of the Virgin Mary, constructed in 870. The churches of St. George and St. Vitus date from the first half of the 10th century. The former was founded by Prince Vratislaus I, who was buried there. His son, Prince Wenceslas I, was buried in the latter. All Saints’ Chapel, consecrated in 1185, stood on the east side of the palace. Charles IV had it rebuilt in Gothic style in the 14th century. He was the second Czech ruler from the House of Luxemburg who, as such, was the first to become Holy Roman Emperor. He wanted to develop Prague on the lines of Paris (some say Rome) and the first step involved transforming the castle and the establishment of the New Town. He had the fortifications strengthened and on the site of the later St. Vitus Basilica he initiated the construction of the new Gothic cathedral. Charles’s son, Wenceslas IV, continued the work. During the Hussite Wars and the following decades the castle stood empty. Then in 1485 reconstruction was begun by Ladislaus II. The Habsburgs added a number of Renaissance buildings. Ferdinand I had the Belvedere built as a summer palace. When Rudolf II was the emperor, Prague was his most important place of residence. He had the palace’s west wing, the Spanish Hall, built and installed his valuable arts collection there. The Habsburg rulers, like their predecessors, used the old palace as an impressive show piece. They had residences and new mansions constructed in different parts of the castle complex. The 19th and 20th centuries saw much transformation. In 1918 the castle became the seat of Czechoslovakia’s president. Refashioning of the New Palace and the gardens is linked with the name of the Slovene architect JožePlečnik. St. Vitus’s Cathedral was completed in September 1929. After World War II the castle again functioned as the centre of power and since the establishment of the Czech Republic it has been the seat of the head of state. Václav Havel entrusted the revitalisation of the castle to another noted architect, BořekŠípek. Today the tourists visiting Prague can marvel at the results of reconstruction – the exemplary regeneration of palaces, churches, buildings and gardens. Prague Castle preserves its elements constructed over the centuries and the conceptions of a centre of power during different eras. It is a Castle District – though not like the one in Buda, where the palace represents a special unit, geographically separated from the civilian district. Prague Castle, with its ensemble of churches, palaces, diverse buildings, fortifications and gardens, is a city within a city.