The history of the Prague Castle stretches back to the 9th century (870). The first walled building was the church of Our Lady. The Basilica of Saint George and the Basilica of St. Vitus were founded in the first half of the 10th century. A Romanesque palace was erected here during the 12th century. In the 14th century the royal palace was rebuilt in Gothic style and the castle fortifications were strengthened. In 1485, King Ladislaus II Jagello began to rebuild the castle. The massive Vladislav Hall (built by Benedikt Rejt) was added to the Royal Palace.
A fire in 1541 destroyed large parts of the castle. The Second Prague defenestration in 1618 began the Bohemian Revolt. During the subsequent wars the Castle was damaged and dilapidated. The last major rebuilding of the castle was carried out by Queen Maria Theresa in the second half of the 18th century. In 1918 the castle became the seat of the president of the new Czechoslovak Republic. The New Royal Palace and the gardens were renovated by Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik. Renovations continued in 1936 under Plečnik's successor Pavel Janák.
After the liberation of Czechoslovakia from the Nazi occupation of World War II, it housed the offices of the communist Czechoslovak government. During the Velvet Revolution, Alexander Dubček, the leader of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring, appeared on a balcony overlooking Wenceslas Square to hear throngs of protesters below shouting "Dubček to the castle!" As they pushed for him to take his seat as president of the country at Prague Castle, he embraced the crowd as a symbol of democratic freedom.
After Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the castle became the seat of the Head of State of the new Czech Republic. Similar to what Masaryk did with Plečnik, president Václav Havel commissioned Bořek Šípek to be the architect of post-communism Prague Castle's necessary improvements - in particular of the facelift of the Castle's Gallery of paintings.
(the pics are our own...)
On the way up the hill to the castle complex, there are great statues right along the stairway...
there're great views as you go up the hill...
and finally, you reach the top - but you're not in the castle yet...
Finally, the gates to the castle!
right before we went in to the castle, we got to listen to this cool trio playing some jazz...
and then we went in...
The architecture is amazing!
And there are a variety of buildings to see...
The view from the castle...
Mary & her brother Tony.
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