Prazský Hrad a Hradcany

Prazsky Hrad a Hradcany (the Prague Castle and Hradcany) is situated on a high hill above the city. The Prague Castle was founded in the 800s by duke Borijov and was the beginning of Prague´s history. It has palaces, 3 churches and an abbey. Today also museums are situated inside the walls (like the Franz Kafka museum). Around 1320 a town called Hradcany was founded outside the wall of the castle. After a great fire in the 16th century the damaged buildings where rebuilt in renaissance style. Since 1918 the castle has hosted the Czech president. There is the changing of the guards once in an hour.

One of the most famous views of Prague - the district Prazsky Hrad a Hradcany (the Prague Castle and Hradcany), dominated by St Vitus Cathedral above River Vltava. The towers in the middle are S:t George's Abbey and the tower to the right is Pulverturm.

The Prague Castle a Hradcany, dominated by S:t Vitus Cathedral, at sunset.

The entrance to Prazský Hrad, the Castle of Prague. Note the stiff guards on each side of the gate and S:t Vitus two towers. We witnessed the changing of the guard at the other end of the castle.

These old veteran cars are for hire with a driver.

Královský Palác, the Royal Palace that also has been used for the government and as a courthouse. The bohemian conqueror ruled Prague from here in the 11th century. It was renovated in 1924. It is built in 3 different styles: a roman palace (in the basement of the current palace), the gothic Vladislav Hall (a hugh royal hall with vaults) and a chapel in baroque style.

Kláster Sv. Jirí, or S:t George's Abbey, was Böhmen's first abbey. In 1974 the abbey was transformed to a baroque art gallery. S:t Geroge's Basilica (Sv. Jirí) is towering above.

S:t Vitus Cathedral, or St Veit. It is the most impressive gothic cathedral I have been to and the most famous landmark of Prague. In Czech the cathedral is called Sv. Víta or Václava a Vojtécha.

The side tower is the tallest one and is 99m high. The start of construction was demanded in 1344 by Johan of Luxemburg. When its architect Matthias from Arras, died, Peter Parler from Schwaben continued his work. It was completed in the early 20th century.

Details of the cathedral.

The cathedral and Pulverturm.

S:t Vitus is impressively high inside. This is the gothic chancel that Peter Parler started to build in 1372.

The organ.

The chandelier.

Note how the light of the windows reflect.

The gate to the outside world, the district Hradcany. That's where we saw the changing of the guards.

The winding streets of Hradcany. After walking down the Petrín Hill, and failing in finding the funiculare, we also had to walk down this steep street to Hradcany.

View towards S:t Vitus.

A castle like building, probably an embassy.

Hradcany a Prazsky Hrad at sunset.