Old Royal Palace (Prague)

The Old Royal Palace is a historic complex within the Prague Castle ensemble on Hradčany Hill, historically the seat of Bohemian rulers and an administrative centre. The palace contains major ceremonial halls and medieval state rooms that reflect several centuries of royal and state use.

Significant interior spaces include large late-Gothic and Renaissance halls used for official ceremonies, most notably the expansive Vladislav Hall, plus former administrative and residential rooms displaying medieval and early modern architecture. The palace forms part of the visitor circuit through Prague Castle and is presented with interpretive displays and access to principal rooms.

The complex developed from medieval stronghold and princely residence into the principal royal palace of the Bohemian crown, with major rebuilding phases in the Gothic and later Renaissance periods. It served as the seat of Bohemian kings and later Habsburg authorities and has been adapted repeatedly for administrative and representational uses over the centuries.

The Old Royal Palace sits within the Prague Castle area overlooking the Vltava River in Prague, adjacent to St. Vitus Cathedral and a short walk from the historic centre of the city.

• Key interior: Vladislav Hall is one of the palace's most important interior spaces and is often highlighted on visitor routes through Prague Castle.

What to See #

• Vladislav Hall: a late Gothic ceremonial hall completed in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, used historically for coronations and large state gatherings.
• Royal chambers: the sitting rooms and medieval administration spaces that formed the residence of Bohemian rulers and later Habsburg officials, many of which display period architecture and decorative work.