Royal Route (Prague)
The Royal Route (Královská cesta) is a historic route in Prague linking the Old Town, the Lesser Town and Hradčany. The coronation processions of Bohemian rulers passed along it on the way to the coronation in St Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle.[1] Bohemian kings and queens were crowned in the cathedral.[2]*
Route
The route begins at the Powder Tower. Next to it stood the King's Court, the rulers' residence on the site of today's Municipal House.[3] From there it runs along Celetná Street to Old Town Square, across Malé náměstí and along Karlova Street to Charles Bridge.[3] The bridge is entered through the Old Town Bridge Tower, and on the Lesser Town side the route passes through the gate between the Lesser Town Bridge Towers.[4] From Lesser Town Square it continues up Nerudova Street. Originally it went on along Úvoz through Pohořelec and Loretánská Street to Hradčany Square and ended at the entrance to the Castle.[3] A shorter link to the Castle was later created by the Town Hall Steps and Ke Hradu Street, completed in 1663.[3] Across Hradčany Square the route led to the Castle along its southern side, past the Church of St Benedict and the Schwarzenberg Palace.[3]
History
An older Bohemian custom was a procession to Vyšehrad on the eve of the coronation and a ceremonial procession from Vyšehrad to Prague Castle on the following day.[3] Charles IV drew up a new coronation order.[3] According to the Prague 1 district, the route from the King's Court came into use under Wenceslas IV, who set up his new residence by today's Powder Tower.[3] During the processions small coins were thrown to the onlookers and prisoners were released.[3] The route remained in use even after the rulers moved to Vienna. The last coronation procession passed through Prague in 1836, when Ferdinand V was crowned.[3][1] According to Prague City Tourism, Bohemian kings set out from the Powder Tower to their coronation for more than 300 years.[5]
Today
The route is medieval in origin, overlaid with Baroque and 19th-century buildings.[1] Today it is one of the busiest tourist areas of Prague.[1] Prague City Hall describes the route from the Powder Tower via Celetná Street, Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and Nerudova Street to Prague Castle.[6]
Sources
* The sources are collected and the preliminary text of this entry is drafted with artificial intelligence, on the instruction of the editorial staff; the entry has not yet been verified by an editor — report a mistake.