Prague Castle

About the Castle

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is known for its stunning medieval architecture, the iconic Prague Castle, and the historic Charles Bridge. The city's Old Town Square is a masterpiece of Gothic and Baroque architecture.

Founded around 880 by Prince Bořivoj I of the Přemyslid dynasty, the castle complex above the Vltava has served as the seat of Bohemian princes and kings, Holy Roman emperors, and, since 1918, the presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic. Its skyline is dominated by St. Vitus Cathedral, begun in 1344 under Charles IV and completed only in 1929. Major episodes of Czech history unfolded there, including the 1618 defenestration that helped trigger the Thirty Years' War and Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk's installation as first president. Continuously inhabited for more than a millennium and holding the Bohemian crown jewels, the complex functions today as both the head of state's official residence and the country's most visited monument.