CASTLE, First Courtyard

To visit the Castle in depth, you’ll need to set aside at least a whole day, to dedicate most of all to the various monumental buildings and museums; however, you can also enjoy a relaxing break in the greenery, with the beautiful views from the gardens along the bastions, and a wander around the little shops on the Golden Lane, where Franz Kafka lived at number 22 is a must. You might choose to visit the “White Tower”, which houses the torture museum, or simply take a leisurely wander through the history of this complex of splendid buildings with over 700 rooms, gazing in admiration at its fascinating five churches, towers, side streets and lush gardens.

The general appearance is in a no-frills, eighteenth-century style, thanks to the work of the court architect Nicola Pacassi, whom the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria entrusted with harmonizing the architectural style of the Castle. Other styles can nonetheless still be noted here, such as Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque.

To help you find your way around, I suggest you keep in mind the sequence of the “courtyards”, the squares around which you find the main buildings of the complex....