Prague Castle

Prague Castle was founded as early as the 9^th; the construction of the complex is dated to 885. In the early Middle Ages, the original Castle complex served as the centre of Christianity and the political power of the Přemyslid dukes. Because of its status, Prague Castle was a symbolic and power centre from the beginnings of Czech statehood, and the seat of Czech rulers and the nearby town were built on its basis. During the reigns of Charles IV and Rudolf II of Habsburg, Prague Castle was also the centre of imperial power, which made it a centre of European culture. In spite of the fact that the Castle complex went through numerous reconstructions, it is still primarily associated with the high culture of the High Middle Ages. The foundation stone of Saint Vitus Cathedral was laid there in 1344. The monumental Late Gothic Vladislaus Hall, still used for such ceremonies as the awarding of the highest state decorations, dates from the Jagiellonian dynasty. Newly-elected presidents are also inaugurated there.

During the reign of Emperor Rudolf II, who chose Prague Castle as his seat in 1583, the complex reached the culmination of its prosperity as the place where Rudolf gathered his art collections. Shortly after Rudolf’s death in 1618, however, the Castle became the location of the so-called Third Defenestration of Prague, an act which marked not only the beginning of the Bohemian Revolt, but also the Thirty Years’ War, the bloodiest European conflict at the time. The war had an especially negative impact on the cultural and economic situation in the Czech lands, which was also reflected in the decline of the Castle’s status of a cultural centre. Although some significant reconstructions were done in the Castle, it never again became the seat of a Czech ruler; during Joseph II’s reign it even served as military barracks. President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk chose it for his administrative seat in 1918 and it has been the official seat of the President ever since. It is a unique location of historic memory in which many architectural styles and cultural periods blend together. It is protected by the UNESCO as a unique mosaic of European culture.