Long Queues Form as Czech Crown Jewels Near End of Public Display

Early visitors arrived around 8 a.m., an hour before Vladislav Hall opened for the final day of the crown jewels exhibition at Prague Castle. Queues extended from the South Gardens entrance, through the Bull Staircase, and into the Old Royal Palace, where the collection is displayed inside Vladislav Hall. The free show, which ends at 5 p.m., aligns with Czech Statehood Day and the feast of St. Wenceslas, after whom the central crown is named.

Castle staff guided later guests, providing route advice and multilingual assistance. The exhibit traces the jewels' journey from 16th-century storage at Karlštejn Castle, their wartime move to Vienna, and their 1791 return, marking five centuries of Habsburg rule. Normally kept in the Crown Chamber of St. Vitus Cathedral, the jewels are displayed annually after a decision by President Petr Pavel in 2024.