Page 108 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Prague

106  PR A GUE AREA B Y AREA

4 Old Royal Palace
Starý Královský Palác
From the time Prague Castle was first fortified
in stone in the 11th century (see pp24–5), the
palace was the seat of Bohemian princes. Riders’ Staircase
The building consists of three different These wide and
architectural layers. A Romanesque palace built gently sloping
by Soběslav I around 1135 forms the cellars steps, with their
Gothic rib vault,
of the present building. Přemysl Otakar II and were used by
Charles IV then added their own palaces above knights on horse-
this, while the top floor, built for Vladislav back to get to
Jagiello, contains the massive Gothic Vladislav Vladislav Hall for
indoor jousting
Hall. During the period of Habsburg rule, the competitions.
palace housed government offices, courts and
the old Bohemian Diet (parliament). In 1924,
it was extensively restored. The Diet, the medieval
parliament, was also the
throne room. Destroyed
by fire in 1541, it was rebuilt
by Bonifaz Wohlmut in 1563.

An overhead passage
from the palace leads to
the Royal Oratory in St
Vitus’s Cathedral (see p105).

Vladislav Hall
This hall’s magnificent rib vaulting was designed by
Benedikt Ried in the 1490s. The Royal Court was very
like a public market in the 17th century, but it is Entrance
used today for the swearing-in of Czech presidents.

Přemysl Otakar II, 1253 Palace reconstructed 1618 Defenestration from
1230–78
by Přemysl Otakar II Bohemian Chancellery
1041 Castle
besieged and 1541 Fire destroys 1766–8 Building of
palace burnt large part of Castle Theresian Wing
900 1100 1300 1500 1700 1900
Late 9th century 1340 Charles IV 1370s Peter Parler Decorated door of office
Founding of Prague Castle rebuilds palace rebuilds All Saints’ in Old Royal Palace
by Prince Bořivoj Chapel
1924 Palace
1135 Rebuilding 1502 Completion of Vladislav Hall undergoes exten-
undertaken by Soběslav I by Benedikt Ried after nine years sive restoration

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