Prague Castle and Hradcany - part III

The last article from the series about Prague Castle.

Golden Lane (Zlatá ulička)
Named after the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th century, Golden Lane is popular with its tiny colourful houses built right into the arches of the Castle walls. In the 18th and 19th centuries they were occupied by squatters, later it was the home of the writer France Kafka (house 22) and the Nobel-laureate poet Jaroslaf Seifert. Most of them are souvenir shops today.

White Tower (Bílá věž)
It is the place where Irish alchemist Edward Kelley was imprisoned by Rudolf II.

Daliborka Tower (Daliborka)
This tower was built in the 15th century. It is named after Dalibor of Kozojedy who was imprisoned here in 1498 for supporting a peasant rebellion, and later executed. According to a legend he learnt to play the violin and his playing could be heard throughout the castle. The story was used by Bedřich Smetana in his opera Dalibor.

Lobkowicz Palace (Lobkovický palác)
Built in the 1570s it is a branch of the National Museum with a collection on Czech history until 1848 including replicas of the Czech crown jewels and the sword of executioner Jan Mydlář.

Toy Museum (Muzeum hraček)
This private museum is said to be the second largest museum of its kind in the world.

Schwarzenberg Palace (Švancenberský palác)
Built originally for the Lobkowicz family it passed through several hands before the Schwarzenbergs acquired it in 1719. There has been a Museum of Military history since 1945.

Archbishp's Palace (Arcibiskupský palác)
Bought by Ferdinand I in 1562 for the first Catholic Archbishop it is the seat of archbishops ever since. In the period of after the 1621 it was a powerful symbol of Catholic domination of the city as well as the Czech lands. It is only open to the public one day before Good Friday.

Sternberg Palace (Šternberský palác)
Named after Franc Josef Sternberg, who founded the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts in Bohemia in 1796, it houses the National Gallery's valuable collection of 14th– to 18th- century European art, such as works by Goya and Rembrandt.

Černín palace (Černínský palác)
This palace was built in 1668 for the Imperial Ambassador to Venice. It was badly damaged in 1757 when Prussian bombarded Prague and almost 100 years later sold to the state. Since 1918, it has been home to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1948 the foreign minister, demokrat and anti-communist, Jan Masaryk fell to his death from one of the bathroom windows. It is still unclear whether it was a suicide or a murder planned by the communist secret service.

The Loreta (Loreta)
This extraordinary baroque pilgrimage church was built in 1626 with funds donated by Countess Lobkowitz. Its grandiose design and miraculous stories about this place were part of Ferdinand II's campaign to recatholicize the Czechs. Worth seeing is especially the treasury on the 1st floor.

Capuchin Monastery (Kapucínský klášter)
Founded in 1600 it was the first monastery of its kind in Bohemia. It is connected to the neighbouring Loreta and it is famous for its miraculous statue of the Madonna and Child. Each year at Christmas there is a delightful Baroque nativity scene of life-sized figures.

Strahov Monastery (Strahovský klášter)
Founded in 1140 by Vladislav II the Strahov Monastery was completed in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was functioned until the communist government closed it. Now it is a working monastery and a museum. Inside is the Church of St Roch, the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and the Strahov Picture Gallery. The biggest attraction is the Strahov Library – the largest monastic library in the country.