According to Guinness World Records, Prague Castle is the largest ancient castle in the world. The vast complex stands on a hill above Prague and has served as a center of Czech political and religious power for more than a millennium.
Prague Castle’s origins reach back to the late ninth century, when a fortified settlement was established there. Over the centuries, Bohemian kings, Holy Roman emperors, Czechoslovak presidents, and Czech presidents have used the site. It is not a single uniformly medieval building: the complex includes palaces, churches, gardens, courtyards, and administrative structures built and rebuilt in different periods.
The Guinness designation is based on the castle complex’s enormous area, roughly 70,000 square meters. That measurement explains why comparisons with famous individual fortresses such as Edinburgh Castle or Windsor Castle can be misleading. St. Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, and Golden Lane are among the best-known features within the wider castle grounds.