The Royal Route of Prague

Today, the Royal Route serves as the main tourist route through the centre of Prague. If you want to walk the same path that Czech kings used to ride, you have to start in Králův dvůr in Old Town, the former city seat of Czech kings by today’s Powder Tower (where the Municipal House now stands). Continue along Celetná Street across Old Town Square past the Old Town City Hall, and then through Malé Square, Karlova Street past Klementinum across Křižovnické Square, across Charles Bridge connecting the right and left banks of the Vltava River. Then continue through Mostecká Street to Malostranské Square, along Nerudova and Ke Hradu Street, across Hradčanské Square to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral, where the coronation used to take place.

Chimes, singing and cannon fire

The first king to ride the coronation route was Albrecht II of Habsburg in 1438; four hundred years later, in 1836, Ferdinand I of Austria was the last. However, the Royal Route was also taken by prominent messengers and guests from foreign countries, funeral processions carrying the remains of Habsburg rulers and in 1729, the procession on the occasion of the canonisation of Jan of Nepomuk also walked along this route. The route used to be decorated; the processions would stop along the way and meet the representatives of guilds, schools, church orders, the military, and also representatives from Prague city halls. Along the way, you could hear the bells chime, music, singing and cannon fire.