We visited the Prague Castle. Since its development in the 9th century, it has been developing uninterrupted you throughout the past 11 centuries. It is a complex of fortifications, residential and office buildings representing all architectural styles and periods, surrounding three castle courtyards. Originally it used to be the residence of Bohemian princes and kings, since 1918 the seat of the Czech president. During the presidency of one unpopular resident, two dissenters climbed up to the roof, removed the Czech flag and replaced in with a pair of large red men’s underpants. Here is the entrance to the castle grounds.

St. Vitus Cathedral, on the castle grounds, is the spiritual symbol of the Czech state, founded in 1344 by John Luxembourg and his son Charles IV on the site of the original Romanesque rotunda.

Other views around the castle grounds.

Next is Golden Lane which consists of small houses built into the fortifications that served as residences for castle riflemen and craftsmen. Number 22 at one time belonged to Franz Kafka’s sister and he lived there between 1916 and 1917.

Here are some of the views of Prague as we left the castle grounds.

In the evening we were taken on a dinner cruise on the the Vltava River. We had to go through a lock because there is a small cascade on the river. However, the lock door got stuck so we spent a good part of the cruise in the lock. Not the most memorable experience.