Self-Guided Walking Tour of Prague's Castle District (2025)

Founded in 1143, Strahov Monastery is one of the oldest Premonstratensian monasteries in the world. Although it endured plunder and disrepair throughout its history, the site has remained a stronghold of faith, scholarship, and culture.

Today, the highlight is undoubtedly the Strahov Library, housing more than 200,000 volumes and featuring breathtaking Baroque halls. The Theological Hall, added in the late 17th century, dazzles with white stucco reliefs and ceiling murals celebrating knowledge and learning. The Philosophical Hall, constructed in the late 18th century, offers floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a monumental ceiling fresco titled “The Intellectual Progress of Mankind.”

Together, these two grand halls showcase the evolution of human thought and make the Strahov Library one of the most beautiful in Europe. While you cannot walk between the shelves, the decorated interiors can be viewed from designated entrances. We’ve seen many famous libraries, and this one ranks among the top ten for sheer beauty and detail.

If time permits, explore the adjoining Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. Its interior features rich frescoes and a peaceful nave, echoing the quiet spiritual traditions that have lasted for centuries.

Just next to the monastery is the Strahov Monastic Brewery, where brewing traditions date back to the 13th century. Revived in modern times, the brewery now produces St. Norbert craft beers that honor the site’s heritage while catering to contemporary palates.

The brewery’s restaurant serves traditional Czech cuisine and features a sunlit terrace with breathtaking views over the city. A pint of amber or dark lager, enjoyed against a skyline backdrop, is a welcome reward after exploring the Castle District.

Beyond the well-loved house lagers, the brewery also produces small-batch seasonal beers. Visitors can sample a variety of styles, including IPA and wheat brews, in tasting sets. There are occasional behind-the-scenes tours available for those interested in the brewing process.

The relaxed atmosphere makes it a perfect rest stop for travelers, blending history with hearty fare and expertly brewed refreshment.

Constructed in the late 1600s, Czernin Palace is the largest Baroque palace in Prague. Commissioned by Count Humprecht Jan Czernin, it was designed to reflect both prestige and imperial loyalty.

Located near Loreta, its vast and austere exterior—150 meters in length—features thirty giant half-columns and an imposing rusticated façade. Although it now houses the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is generally closed to visitors, it remains a prominent visual anchor of the district.

Its turbulent 20th-century history includes occupation by the Nazi regime and the mysterious death of Jan Masaryk in 1948.

One of Prague’s most beloved pilgrimage sites, Loreta is an ornate Baroque complex centered around the Santa Casa—a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth. Built in the wake of the Battle of White Mountain, it was designed to reinforce Catholic devotion in Bohemia.

Every day, the chime of its carillon bells fills the square from 9am to 6pm, adding auditory charm to the historic setting. The carillon itself, composed of 27 bells, is a rare and delightful feature in Prague. It plays Marian hymns on the hour.

Inside the complex, you’ll find the Chapel of the Nativity of Our Lord, which is richly decorated with frescoes and religious iconography. A key attraction is the dazzling Prague Sun monstrance, encrusted with 6,222 diamonds and housed in the church treasury.

Perhaps the most unusual feature is the statue of Saint Wilgefortis—a bearded female saint who, according to legend, was crucified after miraculously growing facial hair to escape an unwanted marriage. The chapel also houses rare relics, and the peaceful cloisters make for a contemplative walking route.

Loreta remains a working religious institution and a moving testament to Prague’s enduring spiritual traditions. It continues to attract pilgrims, architecture lovers, and those seeking an oasis of calm above the city.

Located in Prague’s Lesser Town, the Schwarzenberg Palace is a former Renaissance masterpiece turned National Gallery Art Museum. Originally built in 1567, the palace was commissioned by Jan Popel of Lobkowicz, a wealthy nobleman who acquired the land after a devastating fire in 1541. The palace is renowned for its Italianate architectural style and features painted stretched canvas ceilings dating back to the late 1500s. Today, it offers visitors the opportunity to admire an unparalleled collection of Bohemian Renaissance, Mannerist, and Baroque art.

Just outside the palace, in the heart of Hradčany Square, stands the Marian Column, a beautifully crafted monument erected in 1736 to commemorate the Plague of 1713. This impressive statue is crowned with the figure of the Virgin Mary and surrounded by sculptures of notable saints, mirroring the Marian Column in Lesser Town Square seen earlier on this walking tour.

Since the 16th century, this has been the residence of the Archbishop of Prague. Its unassuming Rococo façade belies the ornate interiors, which are occasionally open during special events.

A notable feature is the private chapel of Saint John the Baptist, rumored to be linked to a historical murder and preserved in an evocative painting.

This palace remains a functioning ecclesiastical residence and plays host to important religious and diplomatic occasions.

Saint Vitus Cathedral: The Saint Vitus Cathedral is a Gothic wonder and the spiritual heart of Prague Castle. Its origins date back to 930, when Prince Wenceslas acquired the relic of Saint Vitus’s arm and built a small rotunda chapel in his honor. The site later grew into a two-steeple church in 1060 and began its transformation into the grand Gothic cathedral we see today in 1344. The construction spanned over 600 years, resulting in a masterpiece adorned with stunning statues and stained glass windows. The cathedral is home to priceless relics, treasures, and the Royal Crown, dating to 1347.

Among the highlights are the Saint Wenceslas Chapel, nearly unchanged since the Middle Ages and housing the tomb of Prince Wenceslas, who was martyred in 935, and the South Tower, which requires climbing 287 steps to reach its breathtaking viewpoint

Standing within the walls of Prague Castle, the Old Royal Palace is one of the most historically important buildings in the Czech Republic. Initially constructed in the 12th century as the seat of Bohemian princes, it was expanded and transformed over the centuries, notably during the reigns of Charles IV and Vladislav II.

The palace’s crowning feature is Vladislav Hall, completed in 1502. With its vast vaulted ceiling and intricate stone ribbing, this Gothic hall once hosted jousting tournaments, royal banquets, and coronation festivities. The hall’s architectural innovations, such as the Rider’s Staircase—designed to allow knights on horseback to enter—are both functional and symbolic of its grandeur.

During the turbulent events of the Thirty Years’ War, the palace witnessed the Second Defenestration of Prague in 1618, when Protestant nobles threw two Habsburg governors out of a window, igniting one of Europe’s most devastating conflicts. Today, a plaque commemorates the spot of this dramatic turning point in history.

The Old Royal Palace remains a ceremonial site and is used during presidential inaugurations. Visitors can explore its state rooms, admire the coats of arms adorning the walls, and enjoy sweeping views over Prague from the adjacent balcony. Rich in both architectural splendor and historical significance, the palace is a must-see for understanding the legacy of Czech royal power.

Saint George Basilica: Nestled within Prague Castle, the Saint George Basilica is a historic Romanesque church with timeless architectural charm. It was originally built in 920 by Prince Vratislav I, the third Duke of Bohemia, making it the second-oldest church within the castle complex after the Church of the Virgin Mary. Over the centuries, the basilica underwent significant changes, including its expansion in 973 when a Benedictine convent was established nearby. After being damaged by the fire of 1142, it was reconstructed in its current Romanesque form, showcasing bare stone walls and an ancient, almost Byzantine-like interior.

Among its standout features are the tomb of Vratislav I, the founder of the basilica, and the statue of Saint George. The statue portrays Saint George, a Christian martyr said to have been killed by the Romans in 303 AD, depicted as a ghastly skeleton with his abdomen gruesomely sliced open—an evocative display of faith and sacrifice. Saint George Basilica serves as a portal into Prague Castle’s layered history and architectural evolution.

Golden Lane, a charming and colorful street within Prague Castle, dates back to the 1500s, when it housed guards and gunmen serving King Rudolph II. By the 17th century, the lane became home to royal alchemists and goldsmiths tasked with ambitious experiments, such as attempting to create gold, which gave the lane its name. The tiny, vibrant houses along Golden Lane are full of character, with notable structures such as #13, known as the Red Musket Guard House, and #22, where Franz Kafka lived briefly in the early 1900s.

From House #12, visitors can access the Daliborka Tower, once a cannon tower and prison during the 1400s and 1500s. At the eastern exit of Golden Lane, you’ll pass through a formidable castle portal next to the Black Tower and encounter the Parable with Skull, a haunting statue commemorating Kafka’s literary legacy. Inside the base of the Black Tower lies a dungeon that feels straight out of medieval lore. For breathtaking views of Prague, the nearby terrace offers stunning panoramic vistas, making Golden Lane a delightful mix of history and enchantment.

Nestled on the southeastern slope of Prague Castle lies the Royal Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in the Czech Republic, originally planted in 908 by Duke Wenceslas I—later canonized as Saint Wenceslas. As the beloved “Good King,” Wenceslas championed the Christianization of Bohemia and was posthumously named the patron saint of the Czech lands following his assassination by his brother in 935.

During medieval times, the Royal Vineyard served as a complement to the beers brewed by monks in nearby monasteries, although its wines were reserved exclusively for the royal family. While Riesling is prominent today, Pinot Noir was introduced by Emperor Charles IV in the 14th century, reflecting his admiration for French viticulture. Until the construction of the Queen’s Summer Palace in 1534, the vineyard also extended into what is now the Royal Garden to the north of the castle.

The vineyard was revitalized in 2007, reopening to the public on the 1100th anniversary of Wenceslas’s birth. Visitors can stroll among the vines, relax on benches with scenic views of Prague, and reflect on the vineyard’s long and storied heritage.

At its eastern edge stands Villa Richter, a neoclassical structure offering a wine bar, restaurant, and a small museum dedicated to the vineyard’s legacy. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of locally produced wine while taking in sweeping views of the city below—a tranquil and historically rich experience just steps from the grandeur of Prague Castle.

Located at the edge of the Royal Garden north of Prague Castle, the Queen Anna Royal Summer Palace—also known as the Belvedere—is a jewel of Renaissance architecture in Bohemia. Commissioned by Emperor Ferdinand I for his beloved wife Anna Jagiellon, construction began in 1538 and was completed in the 1560s by Italian architects who introduced classical Italian design to the heart of Prague.

The palace is famed for its exquisite arcaded façade with 114 decorative reliefs that illustrate scenes from classical mythology, hunting expeditions, and historical allegories. Its distinctive copper roof, shaped like an inverted ship’s hull, adds a unique flair that distinguishes it from other Renaissance buildings.

Though originally built as a summer retreat and pleasure palace, the Belvedere later served various ceremonial and practical purposes, including as an observatory. Today, it hosts occasional art exhibitions and concerts within its halls.

In front of the palace, don’t miss the Singing Fountain—so named for the melodic sound its cascading water produces. Together, the palace and its gardens offer a peaceful and elegant conclusion (or starting point) for any visit to the Castle District.