Prague Castle

Founded in the ninth century by Premyslid Prince Borivoj, Prague Castle became the seat of Bohemian rulers from the eleventh to the seventeenth century. The Castle has been rebuilt and extended many times (most notably in the reigns of Charles IV and Vladislav Jagiello) and is a vast complex including a cathedral, royal palace, churches, monastery and galleries. Central to the Czech nation, it is the seat of the president, whilst St Vitus Cathedral (in the third courtyard) is the religious heart of the whole country. Work on the cathedral began in 1344, when the Bohemian Bishopric was promoted to Archbishopric, but was not completed until 1929 and its main attraction is the Chapel of the Czech patron saint, Wenceslas.

The Changing of the Guard takes place every hour on the hour from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm; at noon it includes a fanfare and flag ceremony in the first courtyard.