Locals and tour guides like to tell you that the Prague Castle is the largest in the world, and its floor space equals the size of seven football fields. When visiting the site it certainly feels as if it does and it would be best to put away a good part of the day (or more) to view it properly.
Like most historical buildings of importance, the Prague Castle is a hotchpotch of styles. Started in the 9th century, rulers over the centuries have all left their imprint, particularly the Empress Theresa who gave the Gothic forms a more classical facelift. It was greatly remodelled again in the 1920s, making its echoing chambers more liveable and visitor-friendly. Even though Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic chose not to live here, he also made improvements, particularly to Gallery of Paintings.
All this means that nearly every architectural style from the last 1000 years in represented in castle. There is the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral with its beautiful stained-glass windows, and the Renaissance Royal Garden with an elegant Games House to name just a few. Inside the complex are a handful of museums including and an amazing Toy Museum and the National Gallery collection of Bohemian Art.
Entry tickets to the castle are valid for two days, and many museums are separate entry fee is required. Even if you don’t want to go into the castle itself, you can wander around the outside and most of the gardens for free, admiring its magnificent splendour from the exterior.
