Page 100 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

98  PR A GUE AREA B Y AREA

Street-by-Street: Prague Castle

Despite periodic fires and invasions, Prague Castle has
retained churches, chapels, halls and towers from every
period of its history, from the Gothic splendour of St
Vitus’s Cathedral to the Renaissance additions of Rudolph
II, the last Habsburg to use the Castle as his principal
residence. The courtyards date from 1753–75 when
the whole area was rebuilt in Late Baroque and Neo-
Classical styles. The Castle became the seat of the
Czechoslovak president in 1918, and the current
president of the Czech Republic has his office here. Hradčanské náměsti and the Archbishop’s Palace

1 Picture Gallery 3 Powder Tower
of Prague Castle Used in the past for storing gun­
Renaissance and Baroque powder and as a bell foundry,
paintings hang in the the tower is now a museum.
restored stables of the castle.
To Royal President’s
Garden office

2 . St Vitus’s Cathedral
The decoration on the fence
at St Vitus’s Golden Portal.
Second
courtyard
Matthias Gate (1614)
First
courtyard

To Hradčanské
náměstí
Church of the
Holy Rood
Steps down to Theresian Wing
Little Quarter

The Castle gates are crowned
by copies of 18th­century
statues of Fighting Giants by
Ignaz Platzer.

9 South Gardens
18th­century statues
decorate the gardens laid
out in the old ramparts.

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