The beginning of Prague castle

Prague castle. The biggest medieval castle to date, with building starting in 880. It has functioned as court for Holy Roman Emperors, kings and princes of Bohemia and the presidents of Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic. We’ll be focusing on the medieval years of this impressive building, with the first buildings being built until the habsburgs moving in. 

Legend 

Almost every start in the middle ages comes with a legend, this time the legend that tells how Prague was founded. The first duke of the Czech people, duke Krok, had a daughter named Libuše. Princess Libuše stood on top of a rocky cliff that was above the Vltava River. The princess said “I see a great city whose glory will touch the stars” and she ordered a castle to be built on the exact spot she stood. Later, when her father died, she married and became queen of the new founded place. She founded the dynasty that would rule Prague for more than 500 years and build the castle we are talking about today. The Přemyslid dynasty, because Libuše’s husband was called Přemyslid. 

Founding of Prague castle 

The duke of Bohemia, prince Borivoj, founded Prague castle. He build the basic first house, that became his residence. The first church, which has still some remaining parts today, was build after the house. The church of the virgin Mary. A next duke of Bohemia, Vrastislaus, build thethe basilica of St. George and his son, Wenceslaus, build the basilica of St. Vitus. These churches have been changed a lot after all those the years, due to fires and enlargement. 

After founding

The years after the founding a lot of new building were built by the dukes of Bohemia. It stayed the residence of the dukes of Bohemia. They later became the kings of Bohemia and after that they even became emperors. The first being Charles the IV. He built a lot of the buildings that are now at Prague castle, like the new basilica of St. Vitus. You can read his name everywhere when you are Prague cause he had built a lot when he was emperor. After Charles there were more Holy Roman Emperor’s, but none of them did as much too Prague castle as he did. After some years without residents due to war and after that a few king of Bohemia, the castle became the residence of the Habsburgs and the middle ages ended.