Prague Castle

Founded in the late 9th century by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid dynasty, Prague Castle began as a wooden fortress overlooking the Vltava River. Over the centuries, it evolved from a Romanesque stronghold into a grand Gothic residence under the reign of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century. This era saw the beginning of the iconic St. Vitus Cathedral, which took nearly 600 years to complete, symbolizing the enduring spiritual and political power of the Bohemian crown. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the castle underwent significant aesthetic transformations, particularly under the Habsburgs. Empress Maria Theresa commissioned a major neoclassical reconstruction in the 18th century, which unified the exterior of the diverse palace buildings into the cohesive complex seen today. The castle served as the seat of Czech kings and Holy Roman Emperors, becoming a melting pot of architectural styles and a witness to the shifting tides of European power. Following the formation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, the castle became the official residence of the President, a role it maintains for the Czech Republic today. It stood as a silent witness to the Nazi occupation, the subsequent Communist era, and the peaceful Velvet Revolution. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, it remains the largest coherent castle complex in the world and the ultimate symbol of Czech national identity and resilience.