Prague Castle was founded in 870, but the actual construction dates to the 12th century. Guinness Book of World Records lists it as the largest ancient castle in the world. Like all castles it has it kinks and queens (sorry couldn’t resist) and it’s “knights in shining armor bent on chivalry.” Errrr…. except for this unhappy knight who looks like he was more bent on dodging his knightly duties. Who can blame him really? I suspect being a knight must have been over-rated, at least from the perspective of the individual knight. Seriously, who would want to be poked with one of these ghastly things. They didn’t even have antibiotics for heaven’s sake.
Anyhoo as usual, I digress. The castle, like all castles, had its torture chamber and dungeons.
And it’s angry, murderous angel……. Huh? What is up with this? Why is this angel killing someone or something? I didn’t think angels did this, but what do I really know about angels? Not enough obviously……
Plus, it has the strangest collection of creepy gargoyles I have ever seen. My next post will include photos of some of them. These of you with historically enquiring minds will want to check them out.
They had a mad scientist at the castle, at least I’m assuming he was mad, since the knight was sad, and the angel murderous. He may have been perfectly sane for all I know, but here are his rooms and potions and such….Maybe he was really just a kindly wizard?
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The castle does contain several beautiful churches including this one.
And like all castles it had many beautiful places.
It had royal jewels too, but these I didn’t bother to go see, as I liked the old books much more.
The castle complex is said to contain every architectural style of the last millennium.
An interesting historical fact about the castle is that during the Nazi occupation of WWII, the castle was usurped by Reinhard Heydrich who used it as his headquarters. Heydrich, who was born in Prague, was a principal architect of “the final solution,” and Chief of Reich Security. He was said to wear the Crown of Bohemia at times in the castle. He was attacked one day en route to the castle, by Czech resistance fighters, and died of his wounds a week later.
Maybe the angry angel had her hand in this……
Don’t mess with her!
Prague Castle is truly beautiful and fascinating to visit. If you visit Prague, you must pop on by, and give your regards to the sad knight.
And don’t forget the angel!
Ahoj!
