Prague Castle and Hradcany
The history of Prague begins with the Castle, founded in the 9th century
by Prinve Borivoj. Its commanding position high above the river
Vltava soon made it the center of the lands ruled by the Premyslids.
The buildings enclosed by the Castle walls included a palace, three churches,
and a monastery. In about 1320 a town called Hradcany was founded in part
of the Caslte's outer bailey. The Castle has been rebuilt many times,
most notably in the reigns of Charles IV and Vladislav Jagiello.
After a fire in 1541, the badly damaged buildings were rebuilt in Renaissance
style and the Castle enjoyed its cultural heyday under Rudolph II. Since
1918 it has been the seat of the president of the Republic. The Changing of the
Guard takes place every hour. At noon the ceremony includes fanfare
St. Vitus Cathedral
Work began on the city's most distinctive landmark in 1344 on the orders of
John of Luxembourg. The first architect was the French Matthew
of Arras. After his death, Swabian Peter Parler took over. His
masons' lodge continued to work on the building until the Hussite Wars. Finally
completed by the 19th and 20th century architects and artists, the cathedral houses
the crown jewels and the tomb of "Good King" Wencelas.
A walk around St. Vitus Cathedral takes you back through a thousand years
of history. Go in through the west portal to see some of the best elements of the
modern, Neo-Gothic style an continue past a succession of side chapels to catch
glimpses of religious artefacts such as saintly relics, works of art from
Renaissance paintings to modern statuary.
Rose Window
Designed by Frantisek Kysela in 1925-7, the window above the portals depicts scenes from
the biblical story of the creation.
Golden Portal
Until the 19th century this was the main cathedral entrance, and it is still
used on special occasions. Above is a mosaic of The Last Judgement by 14th
century Venetian craftasmen.
Gothic Vaulting
The skiss of architect Peter Parler are never more clearly seen than in
the delicate fans of ribing that support the three Gothic arches of the
Golden Portal.
Chancel
The chancel was built by Peter Parler from 1372. IT is remarkable
for the soaring height of its vault, counter pointed by the intricacy of the
webbed Gothic tracery.
Tomb of St. John Nepomuk
Crafted from solid silver in 1736, this elaborate tomb honors the saint
who became the focus of a Counter-Reformation cult.
Royal Mausoleum
Ferdinand I died in 1564. His beloved wife and son, Maximilian II, are
buried alongside hime in the mausoleum.
Royal Palace
From the time Prague Castle was first fortified in stone in the 11th century,
the palace was the seat of Bohemian princes. The buildings consists of three
different architectural layers. A Romanesque palace built by Sobeslav I
aroung 1135 forms the cellars of the present building. Premysl Otakar II
and Charles IV then added their own palaces above this, while the top
floor, built for Vladislav Jagiello, contains the massive Gothic Vladislav
Hall. During the period of Hbasburg rule the palace housed government offices, courts,
and the old Bohemian Diet (parliament). In 1924 it was extensively restored.
Pinkas Synagogue
The synagogue was founded in 1479 by Rabbi Pinkas and enlarged in 1535 by his great-nephew Aaron Meshulam Horowitz. It has been rebuilt many times over the centuries. Excavations have turned up fasicnating relics of life in the medieval ghetto, including a mikva or ritual bath. The core of the present buidlings is a hall with Gothic vaulting. The gallery for women was added in the early 17th century.
The synagogue now serves as a memorial to all the Jewish Czechoslovak citizens who were imprisoned in Terezin concentration camp and later deoprted to various Nazi extermination camps. The names of the 77,297 who did not return are inscribed on the synagogue walls. The building now houses an exhibition of children's drawings from the Terezin concentration camps.
Rudolfinum
Now the home of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rudolfinum is one of the
most impressive landmarks on the Old Town bank of the Vltava. Many of the major
concerts of the Prague Spring music festival are held here. There are several concert
halls, the sumptuous Dvorak Hall ranking among the finest creations fo 19th century
Czech architecutre.
The Rudolfinum was built between 1876 and 1884 to a design by Josef Zitek
and Josef Schulz and named in honor of Crown Prince Rudolph of Habsburg.
Like the National Theater, it is an outstanding example of Czech Neo-Renaissance style.
THe curving balustrade is decorated with statues of distringuished Czech, Austrian,
and German composers and artists.
Also known as the House of Artists, the building houses the Gallerie
Rudolphinum, a collection of modern art. Between 1918 and 1939, and for a brief
period after World War II, the Rudolfinum was the seat of the Czechoslovak parliment.
