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Prague Castle is known to be a crowded tourist magnet, which it is.
Street musicians
Known as the world’s largest castle (depending on exactly how one measures), it’s popular for a good reason though, with a large complex of interesting buildings, the seat of the Czech president, and numerous museums.
Archbishop’s Summer Palace
In proper castle fashion, guards are posted at the sides of each entrance gate:
Guard
And like elsewhere, the changing of the guard is a bafflingly-popular thing for tourists to watch:
Changing of the guard
Then again, when the guard is changing, you cannot go through the gates anyhow, so you may as well watch, I suppose.
Vintage Czech car
The street scene in and around the castle is colorful, with a varied blend of government folk, tourists, and service people.
St. George’s Basilica
Two large, intimidating statues flank the main entrance:
Stabby
Clubby
I guess these were meant to put subjects in their place and instill some sense of wonder (or at least fear).
Sad obelisk
This obelisk, installed in the early 20th century, was meant to symbolize power & permanence of the Czech state, but it broke in transit, hence its stunted metal top now. Perhaps a harbinger of things to come in WWII.
Crowds near St. Vitus Cathedral
Especially the areas near St. Vitus Cathedral and the Golden Lane (which we did not visit) are highly-trafficked. We opted to skip the for-pay parts of the castle, and contented ourselves with a couple of visits to St. Vitus, and the courtyards and gardens. One can’t see everything, and we normally don’t try too hard.
North gate
Despite the crowds, like St. Vitus, Prague Castle is a must-visit, and it’s a great walk from Mala Strana up the hill to the castle, or you can take the “tourist express” tram #22 to and/or from it.
Prague index:
- Part 1: Vysehrad
- Part 2: Vysehradsky hrbitov (Vysehrad cemetery)
- Part 3: Karluv Most (Charles Bridge)
- Part 4: Vaclavske namesti (Wenceslas Square)
- Part 5: Letecke Muzeum Kbely (Czech Air Force Museum)
- Part 6: Stare Mesto (Old Town)
- Part 7: Staromestske namesti (Old Town Square)
- Part 8: Prazsky orloj (Astronomical Clock)
- Part 9: Josefov (Jewish Quarter)
- Part 10: Vltava River
- Part 11: St. Nicholas Cathedral (Chram sv. Mikulase)
- Part 12: Wallenstein Palace (Valdstejnsky palac)
- Part 13: Kampa Island
- Part 14: Mala Strana street art
- Part 15: Petrin Hill
- Part 16: Mala Strana
- Part 17: Mala Strana house signs
- Part 18: Strahovský klášter (Strahov Monastery)
- Part 19: Schwarzenberský palác (Schwarzenberg Palace)
- Part 20: Toy Musuem
- Part 21: St. Vitus Cathedral gargoyles
- Part 22: St. Vitus Cathedral (exterior)
- Part 23: St. Vitus Cathedral (interior)
- Part 24: Prazky Hrad (Prague Castle), I <– You are here
- Part 25: Prazky Hrad (Prague Castle), II
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Nice pictures. The one of the crowd near St. Vitus really shows how crowded it can be! Last time I was there, I visited the fairly new castle museum, which I remember was partly underground and nicely done. I found it quite interesting at the time as it included historical information and pictures, but now I honestly can’t remember what I saw or learned.
Even so, we thought it was worth a visit at the time. I have always loved the gardens around/near the castle and it seems like I discover a new one every time I’m there.
I’d have liked to have visited a few of the museums, but it’s always nice to have something to come back to (and to not burn out trying to see everything at once).
The gardens were indeed lovely, and we barely scratched the surface.
Not so much a castle as a palace…still, it’s pretty.
Well, don’t tell the Czechs that! Actually it’s many palaces, comprising the castle. Although I think you mean that it’s not a monolithic fortress-like castle as one sees elsewhere, which is true.