The Prague Castle

Prague Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad), also called Prague Castle or Prague Castle, is a castle in the Czech capital Prague in the Hradčany district.

The original Prague Castle dates back to the year 880 and was founded by Borovoj, the oldest known ruler of the Przemyslids. The current buildings are anchored in three style periods: Romanesque, Gothic and Classicism. The beginning was made by King Wenceslaus I. On the "Hill of the Gods" he had a building built in 925 as a safe shrine for the hand of Saint Vitus. The fortress, fenced with wooden posts, was renovated in the 11th century by King Bretislav I with a stone castle.

Prague Castle is one of the largest closed palace complexes in the world. The front alone is half a kilometer long. The castle is the largest castle in the world, with an area of 7.5 hectares.

Prague Castle and its surroundings consist of various courtyards, churches and palaces such as:

• Prague Castle
• St. Vitus Cathedral
• Prague Royal Palace (Starý královský palác and Nový královský palác)
• Hradčanské náméstí (Hradčany Square or Castle Square)
• Swarzenberský palác (Schwarzenberg Palace)
• Sternberský palác (Sternberg Palace) together with the National Gallery
• První nádvoří (First Courtyard)
• Druhé nádvoří (Second Courtyard)
• Third Courtyard
• Matyášova brána (Matthias Gate)
• Obrazárna Pražského hradu (Prague Castle Painting Gallery)
• Informační středisko pražského hradu (Prague Castle Information Center)
• Saint George's Basilica
• Golden Street
• Lobkowicz Palace

The Wenceslas Crown is kept in the castle and is only shown to the public once every ten years. The Crown of Wenceslas is the royal crown of the Bohemian kingdom dating from the 14th century.

North of the castle are the Royal Gardens containing:

• Queen Anne's Summer Palace

Bořivoj I (c. 850 - 888/889), from the House of the Přemyslids, was the first duke of the Bohemian Empire whose historicity is established.

He originally resided in Levý Hradec Castle in Roztoky near Prague. He recognized Svatopluk of Moravia as feudal lord and was recognized by him since about 870 as ruler of the area around Prague, area from which the Duchy of Bohemia later developed. With the Moravian support, Bořivoj became the most powerful monarch in Bohemian region. Around 883, Bořivoj and his wife Ludmilla (who was later canonized) were baptized by Methodius. This was probably a political choice, in order to gain more status in the eyes of his Moravian and Germanic neighbours. This may have been the reason for his rival Spytimír to revolt and in 884 Bořivoj and Ludmilla had to flee to Moravia. However, with the support of Svatopluk, Bořivoj was soon able to recover his position. He now settled in Prague and built the castle and St. Mary's Church there.

Bořivoj was married to Ludmilla of Psov.