PRAGUE CASTLE around the year 1530

At the time of the accession of the Habsburgs to the Czech throne (1526), the Prague Castle is of late Gothic style, although its prismatic towers and especially walls were built under Prince Soběslav I already in the Romanesque period and they have been preserved as part of later extension buildings up to the present day. Therefore, we can see almost exaggeratedly high roofs typical for the Jagiellonian period (early 16th century), many turrets and towers, many galleries and pillars (probably unnecessary, as they were removed soon), a variety of buildings of different origin from different eras – dormer windows, chimneys, indented facades, gables of buildings, corner oriels. Big towers already reach the height of the St. Vitus Cathedral. The roof of the Royal Palace is segmented by steep spikes and moreover enriched by brick gables. On Thursday 2nd June 1541, the old castle was destroyed by fire and only on its ruins, a Renaissance and later Baroque castle, as we know it today, was built. However, with the exception of the St. Vitus Cathedral which remained to be a conserved building site over a long period (to be completed in 4oo years). In the former forecastle (left), as well as in the settlement around the castle, houses of wealthy noblemen are emerging, the opposite side is safeguarded by a so-called barbican.