Saturday 12th October 2024 (day 29)
Today, we went to Prague Castle, where we visited The Old Royal Palace, St Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica and Golden Lane. We traveled by tram, which run very regularly.
The castle is huge. Entrance is guarded by sentries, with additional armed soldiers.
Inside, the entrance courtyard is quite a large, open space with a large fountain:
Outside, beyond the palace and castle, on a terrace, a man was clad in armour, wielding a sword for the entertainment of visitors.
St Vitus Cathedral:
An archway to the left of the above picture, takes you through to the main castle courtyard, where the cathedral is. You are immediately greeted by an enormous, gothic, decorated end wall with gargoyles and other stone figures:
I picked out some of the detail in the following images:
Inside, the cathedral is astonishingly decorated in a range of different styles. The gothic theme is maintained, with high vaulted ceilings and arched aisles, but there are many side chapels and memorials to dead dignitaries with loads of “bling”.
The palace has direct access via a covered bridge, onto this balcony above and to the side of the nave:
The knight with the inflatable pants didn’t choose a flattering look:
There is some really nice stained glass:
The Old Royal Palace:
St George’s Basilica:
Golden Lane:
Golden lane is lane which leads down from the castle courtyard, which used to house various tradespeople who serviced the needs of the castle community. Many of the houses are prepared according to the occupants at various times:
At one time in his life, Franz Kafka lived here at No 22. He apparently rented the house from his sister:
Above the houses, is a gallery museum with various suits of armour and torture implements:
The end of the lane leads to a terrace and a tower which used to house the dungeon in the basement:
In the eastern garden area, there is a large sculpture and from the terrace you get a fine view over the city:
That is all for today. TTFN. See you later.
"See-u-Later" 