Sightseeing at Prague Castle
Home of the Czech President, St Vitus’s Cathedral and Golden Lane
Prague Castle is an entire complex of interesting sights, located across Charles Bridge. Explore the St Vitus Cathedral and watch the changing of the guard.
There are so many interesting parts of Prague to explore that you probably need several weeks to even begin to do it justice. Unfortunately, most visitors stay for just a few days, but a must see in this time is the Prague Castle. The great thing about a day at Prague Castle is there are so many facets to it, from cathedrals to shopping and even events and exhibitions. It’s also easy to find, as when you stand on Charles Bridge and look across to the side of the river opposite the main Old Town, you have a magnificent view of the castle.
The Development of Prague Castle
Prague Castle had its beginnings in the ninth century, but really began to come of age during the rule of Charles IV in the 1300s, when St Vitus’s Cathedral was built. The Prague Castle complex has been lucky enough to avoid major damage over the years, so much of what you can visit today remains close to the original.
Sightseeing at Prague Castle
Prague Castle has so many facets that you can either a jam-packed half-day excursion there, or take it at a more leisurely pace and spend the whole day there. If you want to combine this with getting a feel for the city, then start in the Old Town, walk across Charles Bridge, and then walk along to the castle. Once you’re at the castle, there are plenty of attractions to choose from, starting of course with the palace itself. Some of this is open to the public, while some still houses officials, including the President of the Czech Republic whose office is here.
The two gothic towers that you can see from a distance belong to St Vitus’s Cathederal, a photogenic example of gothic architecture and worth spending some time wandering through. For a small charge you can climb up one of the towers (be prepared for the 287 steps) and have a great view over Charles Bridge, the Vltava River and the Old Town of Prague. You can also visit St George Basilica and the Powder Tower. Further along you’ll find the Golden Lane, which was originally made up of goldsmiths’ workshops and now features all kinds of tradespeople and souvenir sellers, forming a market that’s interesting to go shopping through.
The Changing of the Guard at Prague Castle
This is perhaps the Czech version of London’s changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. It’s not quite as well-known or spectacular, but also much less crowded. The guards actually change each hour on the hour, but the big ceremony happens daily at midday, when a band plays too and the spectacle is much more interesting. Weekend crowds can be quite large but if you’re able to pick a quieter day during the week, you can often get a good view and even some good pictures of this event.
