CZ-578625 Prague Castle

Prague Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad) is the official residence and office of the President of the Czech Republic. It is located in the Hradčany district of Prague.  The history of the castle stretches back to the year 870.  Over the decades, the castle has been a seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it.

Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. It occupies an area of almost 70,000 m² and it is about 570 metres in length and an average of about 130 metres wide.

The castle buildings represent virtually every architectural style of the last millennium. Prague Castle includes Gothic St Vitus Cathedral, Romanesque Basilica of St. George, a monastery and several palaces, gardens and defence towers.

Most of the castle areas are open to tourists. Nowadays, the castle houses several museums, including the National Gallery collection of Bohemian baroque and mannerism art, exhibition dedicated to Czech history, Toy Museum and the picture gallery of Prague Castle, based on the collection of Rudolph II. The Summer Shakespeare Festival regularly takes place in the courtyard of Burgrave Palace.

This postcard came from Monika (27 January 2015) Postcrossing.