St. Vitus Cathedral and Royal Garden of Prague Castle

Hello dear friends. I will share my visit to the Royal Gardens and St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague with you today. We had a pleasant stroll around Prague. We saw important places like St. Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle. Fortunately our guide was very good, providing us with detailed information about everything around.

We visited the magnificent Royal Gardens of Prgue Castle first. You can easily reach here by tram. I don't recommend walking from the Lesser Town or the Malostranská metro station as this route can be quite challenging to climb. It's important to save energy, enjoy the view and admire the beauty. You have two options: One of the tram stops Letohrádek will be your first destination. You can relax and, of course sit on the grass here. You can see the Old Town from here with a magnificent panoramic view. Whichever direction you look everywhere is filled with beauty.

We can view the wonderful panorama of Prague Television Tower from here. There is also an option to stay in the tower which is the tallest building in the country. Known as a one-room hotel. Before the virus crisis, a night's stay used to cost thousands of euros. I can't tell you the current prices,but there is also a stylish restaurant there.

We continued to walk through the Prague Castle complex. It's a place resembling a royal residence. The Czechs call these towers "Golodomor" that means "Confrontation with Hunger." According to legends they used to starve people here who couldn't pay their debts.

We stayed at the "Victor" hotel near the Television Tower. We climbed to Prague's 3rd Vitkov Hill, where there was a magnificent view on a black platform. It's an unusual and non-traditional place and I definitely recommend it. There is a large equestrian statue on Vitkov Hill and this hill is used for Independence Day celebrations. Thanks to the observation terrace it offers a really beautiful view.

Our guide pointed out the tours organized specifically for children in the area in June. Students from Czech schools often spend time outside instead of sitting in rows and visit this chestnut tree. Chestnuts can be found on the tree. They visit beautiful museums and usually have activities in natural environments. They go to places like Prague Castle and Vyšehrad and participate in various festivals in the gardens. Security measures are increased during the festival times, and different exits are used. The local people love to visit here and often come by public transport as parking space is extremely limited.

Prague Castle is one of the most livable castles today and is enchanting with its architectural styles. I asked our guide why Prague Castle is so big. According to him this place was not only the residence of Czech princes and kings but also of the Holy Roman German Emperors.

Prague Castle gained importance in the 16th century. Rudolf II Habsburg moved here making Prague the capital of the Holy Roman Empire. This period is considered a triumph of the Renaissance and Prague Castle was rebuilt and expanded. Then smaller completions were made.

Here we have a wonderful view of St. Vitus Cathedral. It's a place with a fascinating structure.

If you don't want to walk through the gardens,you have an alternative option. By taking the tram you can go one stop further and get off at a station named Prague Castle. At this point you will actually be right in front of Baron's vineyard. There is also a restaurant called Levý Dvůr Bistro which is quite interesting, located here.

Prague Castle like all Czech castles has been protected by lions, not bears considering how important it is for the country. You can observe the areas where these animals live. In the 16th century Rudolf II loved the animals insanely and brought animals from all over the world. This collection was later considered the prototype of the first zoo. But the first zoo is considered to have opened in Vienna.

From here you step inside through the courtyards of the Orlí and Lviv Gates. There is also a transition to a terrace on the right side. There is a nice café and a clean toilet here which is important for walking tourists. The gallery is a wonderful place to rest and breathe. You can sit watching the entrance of Prague Castle. Then you cross the bridge and come to a narrow street, which used to be a suspension bridge called "Zlatá" in the old times.

St. Vitus Cathedral is where the Czech king Charles IV is buried. He had a difficult life some of his children died at birth, and some later. But he married a few times because he needed heirs. St. Wenceslas is also buried here. St. Ludmila was once buried here as well, she is an Orthodox saint from the Czech Republic. She is highly respected in Orthodoxy.

So here we are sitting in the old royal palace like our ancestors. Yes in another room here the event called the Prague Defenestration took place. That is the Czechs threw out officials, governors and even the Pope from the window because they were dissatisfied with them. So, this is extremely important and historically significant for me.

This area is part of the old Royal Palace and is called Vladislav Hall. The Czech Republic's president takes the oath here. Meetings with high-level officials are also held here.

St. George's Square. Here we see a stunning building. St. Ludmila was first buried in St. Vitus Cathedral. Later Charles IV decided to move her bones to the cathedral.

We also saw another impressive building in this area - the Noble Ladies Institute. This square is recognized by architects, and international architecture week events are held here every year.

Entry to the cathedral is charged and this ticket allows you to visit the Golden Lane. There is also a museum of arms and armor here.

Golden Lane was built during the reign of Rudolf II. Rudolf who restored Prague with the help of Italian architects after a fire, also had this street built. The house where Franz Kafka lived is also on this street. It's important to note that Golden Lane is significant in terms of cultural heritage and Albert Einstein walked on this street and a sea-blue boat is located here. Tthe Czechs say that Golden Lane has made a significant contribution to cultural heritage.

We can see the tower called Gıtladomor from the gardens which is a place where debtors would sit. Also St. Nicholas Cathedral is in front of us. Very impressive and beautiful. Surrounded by magnificent views.

Below is a large square Wenceslas Square and gardens.

We saw Charles Bridge from a distance. It stands out with its black towers.

Further ahead is the New Town built in the 14th century. Teyn Church and its roofs are also striking. It's possible to see the Old Town Square from this point. This area can be easily accessed by metro.

The impressive fence of St. Vitus Cathedral. Look how beautiful and striking it is. You can sit here and enjoy the view. The entrance fee is 50 kronor. It's wise to order something let's take a look at the menu. Coffee is only 50 kronor about 2 euros. Latte and cappuccino are a bit more expensive about 3 euros. Pepsi is 6 euros and beer is 2 euros. Considering these beauties you can sit behind the table and enjoy the view of Prague.

The city view is excellent. There is a large intersection below, the Dodge Intersection, and children's gardens. When you look towards Malá Strana you'll see the red roofs and Charles Bridge again. The tower of the Church of the Virgin Mary also catches the eye. At this point you're in the Letná area, unlike the Old Town. Modern structures dominate here. There's a contrasting atmosphere.

Dear friends I'm awaiting your comments. This was a wonderful journey. Thanks for reading.