Across Hradčany hill, Prague Castle layers Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque palaces, courts, and the soaring St. Vitus Cathedral. Conservation coordinates stone, stained glass, timber, and plaster alongside state functions and tourism. Routes, signage, and ticketing distribute crowds across courtyards, gardens, and galleries with panoramic city views.
Since the 9th century, dukes and kings shaped the complex; later Habsburgs and the modern presidency continued its use. The ensemble spans palaces, basilicas, monasteries, gardens, and fortifications.
The cathedral anchors the skyline with flying buttresses, stained glass, and royal tombs. Courtyards—first, second, third—organize access to palaces and ceremonial spaces.
Sandstone, copper roofs, and stained glass require cleaning, repointing, glazing conservation, and drainage management. Monitoring mitigates settlement and weathering.
Arrive early; consider the southern gardens for quieter views and exits toward Malá Strana.
