Portál Starého královského paláce / Old Royal Palace portal - Prague Castle (Prague) - Philatelic Photographs on Waymarking.com

This Czechoslovak post stamp issued in 1980, from series devoted to Prague Castle (Pražský hrad), depicts eastern Renaissance portal of the Old Royal Palace (Starý královský palác) from ca. 1520.

The Old Royal Palace is part of the Prague Castle. Its history dates back to the 12th century and it is designed in the Gothic and Renaissance styles. The Palace is the most significant secular building of the Prague Castle. It is an extensive complex of buildings, halls and corridors whose origins date back to the very beginning of the Czech state more than a thousand years ago. Until the 16th century Czech rulers stayed there if they were present in the Prague Castle. The highest governmental offices resided there until the 18th century and at present time the most important state events take place there. The Palace is based on a Romanesque palace of prince Sobeslav I, built in the first half of the 12th century. It was then extended during the reign of Premysl Otakar II and then Charles IV had it rebuilt later on. After the Hussite Wars, the Palace was restored by King Vladislav of Jagiello who also had the transverse wing constructed. The last major alterations were done by Ferdinand I Hapsburg after a massive fire in 1541. Let us name the most interesting parts of the many historical premises inside the Old Royal Palace.