The Prague Castle is a very large complex of palaces and churches on top of a hill, and it is the largest castle in the world. The first castle was built in 880 by Duke Bořivoj, and it does not resemble what it is today.
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Prince Wenceslas built a small church in 926 on the hill, and wore than 400 years later, Emperor Charles IV commissioned to build a big cathedral, but due to wars, it would take almost 600 years for the cathedral to be completed! St. Vitus Cathedral was officially inaugurated in 1929. The long construction period can be seen by the combination of gothic, baroque and renaissance styles.
The silhouette of the Prague Castle is dominated by the towers of the cathedral. The two oldest towers are 88 meters high, and the main tower is 99 meters high. The main tower has a large bell which weighs 17 tons, and is 2 meters high, with a diameter of 2.5 meters.
The interior of the cathedral is magnificent, with the St. Wenceslas chapel adorned with rubies, sapphires and the well protected crown jewels which includes the crown of Prince Wenceslas. Prince Wenceslas is buried in the church, just like Emperor Charles IV for example.
Another attraction in the castle is the Golden Lane (Zlata ulička), where goldsmiths used to work. The cottages are very small, where a modern man can not stand upright. Franz Kafka lived in the house at number 22 for a short time, and another house is converted to a small museum with weaponry and armor from the Middle Ages.
In the Royal Palace there is an exhibition about the history of the castle area. The Daliborka Tower was a prison, but nowadays its a museum displaying medieval torture techniques.
You should also check out the beautiful gardens of the castle area, which are freely accessible. From the Royal Garden (northeast of the Royal Palace) you have a nice view of Prague and the Vltava.
The changing of the guard at the main entrance happens every hour, at 12.00 but this is accompanied by more ceremonial and music.
