A few things you really must know! Top facts about the Crown Jewels

Czechia’s most closely guarded treasure, the royal crown, sceptre and orb, will be on display at Prague Castle until the end of September 2024. An exhibition is also to be opened showing, for the very first time, a holographic image of the crown as it looked at the coronation of Charles IV in 1347. So, join us in taking a look at some of the fascinating facts you really shouldn’t miss out on in the story of the Bohemian Crown Jewels when you go to see them in Prague.

1. The most closely guarded place in Czechia and the 7 keys

While the royal crown, sceptre and apple are permanently stored in the Crown Chamber in St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle, the coronation cloak is kept in a safe deposit box in the collections of Prague Castle; the golden reliquary cross and the ceremonial Coronation Sword of Saint Wenceslas are generally on display in the permanent exhibition of the Treasure of St. Vitus in the Second Castle Courtyard.

The three most precious jewels and the only three in the set of Czech coronation jewels are locked with seven keys in the most heavily guarded place in Czechia. The keys are held by the political and ecclesiastical heads of state.

2. Who was the first to wear it?

The Crown of Saint Wenceslas is one of the four oldest surviving crowns in Europe. It was made for Charles IV, the first King of Bohemia, who also became Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. One of Europe's greatest rulers, he had the majestic Prague Castle repaired and the breathtaking St. Vitus Cathedral rebuilt; he also built the stone bridge over the Vltava River, a sight that attracts people from all over the world, founded the Prague's New Town, established the first university north of the Alps, had Karlštejn built, as well as the castles of Kašperk and Radyně, and the romantic Lake Mácha and the beautiful spa town of Karlovy Vary were also founded in his name.

Let's stop for a moment at Karlštejn, one of the most photogenic castles in Czechia. It was built as an impregnable treasury to store the crown jewels. If you want to see what the great rulers experienced hundreds of years ago, take a walk along the Royal Way through the historical centre of Prague. It leads through the same places that the coronation processions of the Czech kings passed by: from the Powder Tower through the Old Town, over Charles Bridge and through Malá Strana to Prague Castle.

3. Is the crown really made of gold?

It’s a real feast for the eyes! Made of 22-carat gold and weighing nearly two and a half kilogrammes, it is set with sapphires, spinels, rubies, emeralds and pearls. Originally, the crown was more of a green colour, as it was set with thirteen green emeralds at the coronation, as a holographic animation will show for the first time in the exhibition at Prague Castle. It is interesting to note that the stones were not cut in the usual manner or even made especially for the crown, but were put together by Charles IV himself from gifts he had received from all over the world.

4. In addition to the crown, there’s also the orb and the sceptre

The set of royal jewels also includes the golden royal orb with figures of the sphinx, the royal sceptre set with dozens of pearls, and the red coronation cloak, lined with winter white ermine fur. The cloak inspired architect Jože Plečnik when he was designing one of Prague’s most interesting churches, on náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad.

5. The thorn from Christ's crown of thorns

It's a mystery that has puzzled experts for many years. According to the inscription that Charles IV had made on the crown, a thorn from Christ's crown of thorns should have been inserted into the top golden cross. Yet surveys have shown that the cavity is empty...

6. A dark curse that summons death

The Crown of Saint Wenceslas is wreathed in a dark curse, condemning anyone without a claim to the throne who puts it on to die a violent death within a year. One legend has it that acting Reich Protector Reinhard Heydrich placed the crown on his head when, a few months before his death (he was assassinated in Prague), he and his sons secretly visited the Saint Wenceslas Chapel at Prague Castle. But who knows how it was...

Practical information:

The Bohemian Crown Jewels are usually displayed only on special occasions, this time during the St. Wenceslas Day celebrations from 17 to 30 September 2024 in the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle. Admission is free of charge.
The exhibition will run until 30 September 2024. The exception is Thursday 19 September, when the jewels are not on display to the public, and Thursday 26 September, when the exhibition is open from 1 p.m.
The entrance to the exhibition will now be from Hradčanské náměstí through the gate to the South Gardens. When the daily capacity of the exhibition has been reached, the organisers will close the gate and the queue.
Authentic copies of the jewels created by top Czech jewellers can be seen all year round in the permanent exhibition The Story of Prague Castle.