"This is Chiu Weng, reporting live from München": Prague (14-17 April 2006)

Of course, the best for the last. Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, according to the Guiness Book of Records, with a history stretching back to the 9th Century. Inside is the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral, a massive Gothic building which is the seat of the Archbishop of Prague and still used for Masses. The cathedral was founded by Duke Wenceslas I of Bohemia (also St. Wenceslas or Good King Wenceslas) and used to spread Christianity to the pagans. In the cathedral is the crypt of St. Vitus, as well as the crypts of Kings Charles IV and Wenceslas IV.

Prague Castle is also presently the seat of the Czech President, and the ceremonial guards change every day at 12noon. I was lucky to have seen the changing of guard twice, which is quite grand. Inside the castle, there is also the St. George's Basilica, the Old Royal Palace (now used by the Czech President), the Powder Tower, the Golden Lane (formerly used to house goldsmiths, hence the name) and many gardens. It was here that the Defenstrations of Prague took place, which sparked off the Thirty-Years War.

View of the castle at night from Charles Bridge

The castle in daytime, also from Charles Bridge (you should be able to see the St. Vitus Cathedral, it's the big one)

OK, just to show I've been there

Approaching the main entrance of the castle grounds

View from the top of the hill

The huge courtyard

St. Vitus Cathedral, it's so big I can't fit it in. You can see the huge rose window in the centre

From the side, you can see the viewing tower (in green), 278 steps to get to the top

The red building is St. George's Basilica

Inside St. George's Basilica

Frescos everywhere, very typical

The rear end of St. Vitus Cathedral

View from the garden

The garden stretches around the perimeter of the castle

Is this a cherry blossom tree? Looks like it, and it's the only one in full bloom

The Loreto Sanctuary

The changing of the guard at noon

The outgoing guards

Incoming guards

Handing over

Guards marching back to form up

Marching off

The Golden Lane. Initially the houses of the castle's snipers, then later goldsmiths, thus the name. Now, it houses souvenir shops and ONLY souvenir shops.