David Biggins
Vladislav Hall, Old Royal Palace
The Vladislav Hall has a wonderful Gothic vaulted roof (c. 1500). The hall was used for banquets, councils and coronations as well as for jousting tournaments when it was raining outside. The Riders' Staircase, at the end of the hall on the left, was large enough to admit a mounted knight.
Just off to the right of this photo is the Chancellery where in 1618 the Second Defenestration of Prague - rebelling nobles chucked two of the emperor's councillors out of the window. Luckily the dung-filled moat broke their fall, although it did mark the start of the Thirty Years' War.
Vladislav Hall, Old Royal Palace
The Vladislav Hall has a wonderful Gothic vaulted roof (c. 1500). The hall was used for banquets, councils and coronations as well as for jousting tournaments when it was raining outside. The Riders' Staircase, at the end of the hall on the left, was large enough to admit a mounted knight.
Just off to the right of this photo is the Chancellery where in 1618 the Second Defenestration of Prague - rebelling nobles chucked two of the emperor's councillors out of the window. Luckily the dung-filled moat broke their fall, although it did mark the start of the Thirty Years' War.