The Old Royal Palace is located within the Prague Castle complex. You can visit it with a combination ticket that also grants access to St. Vitus Cathedral, the Golden Lane, and the Basilica of St. George. It cannot be visited separately. The palace consists of several rooms, including the impressive Vladislav Hall and the Ludvik Wing, where three Catholic men were thrown out of a window during the Second Defenestration of Prague in 1618.
The first tip I can give you after purchasing a combination ticket is to visit St. Vitus Cathedral last. Among the four attractions, it is the most impressive. If you visit the cathedral first, the others might feel a bit underwhelming in comparison. You Love Prague takes you on a short tour of the palace. Set aside about 20–40 minutes for your visit to the palace.
The Old Royal Palace is the historic central part of the southern wing of Prague Castle, which served as the residence of Czech princes and kings from the 10th to the 16th century.
Vladislav Hall
As you enter the Old Royal Palace, you are immediately greeted by the central Vladislav Hall, named after King Vladislav Jagiellon, who commissioned its construction. Built between 1490 and 1502 by Benedikt Rejt, the hall boasts impressive dimensions of 62 by 16 meters, with a height of thirteen meters.
Different functions, even tournaments
The Vladislav Hall primarily served as a space for royal representation. It hosted coronation ceremonies, festivities, markets featuring art and luxury goods, and even knightly tournaments. The enormous hall could even be entered on horseback via a special rider's staircase.
The hall features a unique ribbed vault and rectangular Renaissance-style windows on its southern and northern walls. On the southern side, there is a stone balcony from the 20th century, replacing the original wooden one. A staircase along the eastern wall of the hall leads to the choir of the All Saints' Church.
Ludvik's Wing
Ludvik’s Wing is the southern section of the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle. It was constructed as part of the final major reconstruction of the Old Royal Palace after 1485, when King Vladislav Jagiellon moved back to the castle from the royal court in the Old Town.
Defenestration
The most famous event associated with Ludvik’s Wing is the Second Defenestration of Prague. This incident occurred on May 23, 1618, when a group of Protestant nobles, led by Heinrich Matthias von Thurn, pushed the Catholic representatives of King Ferdinand II out of the castle window in Prague (the term "defenestration" literally means "throwing out of a window"). Although the three victims were severely injured, they survived the ordeal. According to the story, the men survived the 17-meter fall by landing in a dung heap—a claim originating from the Protestant version of events.
The Second Defenestration of Prague marked the beginning of the Bohemian Revolt and, subsequently, the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648).
What Else You’ll See:
- Large green "cabinets" known as tiled stoves, which were used for heating.
- Tables, chairs, and cabinets from the 16th century.
The rooms are modestly furnished.
Old Chamber of Deputies
The Old Chamber of Deputies is a hall within the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle, where the Bohemian Land Assembly once convened. The room features three portraits: one of Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of the Habsburg Empire (1740–1780), and the others of her sons Josef II and Franz I.
The room also houses replicas of the crown jewels of Charles IV, which were used during the coronation of new kings. The original crown jewels are securely stored in the Wenceslas Chapel of St. Vitus Cathedral.
The crown jewels
Land Archives
On the second floor is the room of the land archives, which, unfortunately, were lost in 1541 during one of the worst fires. It is an impressive room, with the coats of arms of the most important families in Bohemia adorning the ceiling and walls.
The Room of the Land Archives with the Coats of Arms
If you're not in the mood to read the above text, you can watch an extensive video about the Old Royal Palace.
Opening Hours:
April - October: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
November - March: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Old Royal Palace can only be visited with a combination ticket, available for purchase opposite St. Vitus Cathedral, as part of the Prague Cool Pass or below.
You Love Prague