Prague Castle

Prince Bořivoj founded it around 880, and for more than a thousand years it has been the seat of Bohemian kings, emperors and now the Czech president. It is the largest ancient castle complex in the world, with some 70,000 square metres of palaces, churches and courtyards.

The Old Royal Palace holds the Vladislav Hall, with its intertwined rib vaults, and next door the window of the 1618 defenestration that set off the Thirty Years' War. Golden Lane is lined with tiny coloured houses; Kafka wrote in number 22.