Pražský hrad 16/02/2025 10h25
The Pražský hrad (Prague Castle) as seen from the Karlův most (Charles Bridge) on this beautiful Sunday morning with temperatures below zero.
Pražský hrad
Pražský hrad, Prague Castle, is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic serving as the official residence and workplace of the president of the Czech Republic. Built in the 9th century, the castle has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. As such, the term "Prague Castle" or simply the "Castle" or "the Hrad" are often used as metonymy for the president and his staff and advisors. The Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept within a hidden room inside it.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, occupying an area of almost 70,000 square metres at about 570 metres in length and an average of about 130 metres wide. The castle is among the most visited tourist attractions in Prague, attracting over 1.8 million visitors annually.
The history of the castle began in 870 when its first walled building, the Church of the Virgin Mary, was built. The Basilica of Saint George and the Basilica of St. Vitus were founded under the reign of Vratislaus I, Duke of Bohemia and his son Wenceslaus I in the first half of the 10th century.
[ Wikipedia - Pražský hrad ]