In the beginning there was Bořivoj, the first historically recorded Czech prince, who
sometime during the year 870 decided to move the central residence of the princely Přemyslovci family from the Left Castle (Levý Hradec), above the left bank of the River Vltava, several kilometres further upstream. Here on a rocky bluff above the mouth of the Brusnice strearn, a new vast fort was built, called Praha (prague).
The reason was probably the advantageous position of the place. Here the sides of the the Vltava valley, otherwise falling steeply to the river, descend to create a small basin, which was crossed by busy trading routes and which also offered the necessary space for the establishment of settlements. The fort formerly consisted only of wooden structures and was walled by a massive bulwark. During the 10th century it was given a new stone wall with three gates, several stone churches and the princely palace, at first made predominantly of wood, near the southern bulwark.
After 1067 Prague Castle conceded the position of the central princely seat to Vyšehrad. It was Prince Soběslav I, who in late 12th century splendidly rebuilt and newly fortified the whole grounds. In the 13th century the appearance of the Castle did not change significantly, but in 1304 it burned down. Only a reconstruction during the reign of Charles IV, who had it expensively rebuilt in high Gothic style as a representative residence worthy of the irnperial court, gave it a new splendour. The work continued during the reign of his son Wenceslas IV until the Hussite Wars and then again in the second half of the 15th century, when the court architect court Benedict Rejt adapted and fortified anew the court grounds for King Vladislav Jagello. It is to his credit that the Renaissance knocked on the gates of Prague castle for the first time: but it was not until the reign of the first
Habsburgs after 1526 that this new style entered briskly. The fire in 1541 was a real catastrophe for the ancient seat of Czech rulers. It spread to the Castle
from the Lesser Town and severely damaged the Old Royal Palace, the spire of St. Vitus's Cathedral and other buildings. During the reign of Rodolph II at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries a new, late Renaissance wing was added on the northern si de of the second courtyard, with two large halls - the Spanish Hall and the Gallery, which was adjacent to the famous "kunstchamber" renowned for the art collection of the eccentric emperor.
During the rebellion of the Czech estates and the following Thirty-Years War the castle buildings were looted and all the valuables stolen. The largest theft, amounting to dozens of wagons, was taken away from the castle - and from other parts
of Prague - by the Swedes in 1648. The most prestigious period in the history of the Prague Castle was de facto over: the Habsburgs moved to Vienna for good and Prague became only one of their provincial residences.
Buildings from different periods of construction, which suffered some damage during the wars for Austrian inheritance in the 18th century, were unified into one style and provided with new íacades during the so-called Theresian Reconstruction (1753-1775). Thus they acquired a contemporary, fairly simple Classicist character. The present appearance of the first courtyard also originates from this period.
The reason was probably the advantageous position of the place. Here the sides of the the Vltava valley, otherwise falling steeply to the river, descend to create a small basin, which was crossed by busy trading routes and which also offered the necessary space for the establishment of settlements. The fort formerly consisted only of wooden structures and was walled by a massive bulwark. During the 10th century it was given a new stone wall with three gates, several stone churches and the princely palace, at first made predominantly of wood, near the southern bulwark. 