THE CASTLE

Prague, Czechia

Prague is a city of beauty and history, dating back to the first millennium. As one walks the town, every turn offers another surprise of one era or another. The Vltava River divides the city, with the old city to one side and the lesser city, home to Prague Castle on a hill, on the other side. Walking along the river from the old city side, the Castle dominates the horizon. Guiness calls it the largest castle in the world, occupying 17 acres. Given the extended period of its existence, every style of architecture is represented in the Castle confines, from Baroque to Gothic, Renaissance and Rococo. The Castel has ruled the regions of Europe, and has been ruled by others, including Nazi Germany and the USSR.  

The dominate building in the Castle is The Cathedral of St. Vitus, which is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. This cathedral began as a prominent example of  French Gothic architecture, and is the largest and most important church in the country. Begun in 1344, a succession of architects through four centuries contributed to its completion. The design has influenced the look of many other European cathedrals, notably St. Stephans in Vienna, also sketched on this trip.