Discover Prague Castle’s Crown Jewels

The Crown Jewels will be retrieved by the Crown Prince from their resting place in the Crown Chamber of St. Vitus Cathedral on Monday, 15 September 2025. For the next two days (16 and 17 September), they will be open for viewing by schoolchildren. Starting from Thursday, 18 September, they will be displayed in the Vladislav Hall for the general public.

In the past, the crown jewels were displayed only during special events, but last year, President Peter Paul announced a new approach. He decided they would be shown every year at the end of September in celebration of Czech Statehood Day. Therefore, this year, you can see the jewels from 18 to 29 September 2025 in the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle.

This year’s exhibition, titled Treasure in the Darkness, features an architectural design by Eva Jiřičná and will highlight the history of royal insignia during World War II. Before the war, for security reasons, President Beneš had the jewels moved to Slovakia and stored in a vault of the National Bank of Czechoslovakia. However, due to the situation in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, it was decided shortly after to bring them back to Prague. Toward the end of the war, some of the jewels were secretly hidden in the Romanesque underground of the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle. They remained buried until they were recovered in October 1945. In addition to written materials, the exhibition will also include contemporary photographs and other relevant items, including the crate used to transport them.

When can you see the crown jewels? 18-29 September 2025

The Royal Crown, Apple, and Sceptre will again be part of the celebration for St. Wenceslas Anniversary in the Vladislav Hall of Prague Castle this year. The Crown Jewels will be ceremonially taken from the Crown Chambers of St. Vitus, Wenceslas, and Vojtěch. To access the Crown Chamber, it is necessary for the Seven Key Holders to be present. Along with the President, others holding keys include the Prime Minister, the Presidents of the Senate and the House of Commons, the Archbishop of Prague, the Mayor of Prague, and the Dean of the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Vitus.

For the public, the exhibition in the Vladislav Hall of the Old Royal Palace will be open from Thursday, 18th to Monday, 29th September. The exhibition is usually associated with a limit on the number of visitors, allowing a maximum of 5,000 people each day to view the jewels. Admission is traditionally completely free of charge.

The crown jewels encompass much more than just a crown and a scepter

The Czech Crown Jewels include the St. Wenceslas Crown, which was crafted around 1347, along with the case, a cushion, the royal scepter and its case, the royal Apple, coronation mantle, and other clothing items such as the belt, manipulating, adit, and ermine collar. In the Middle Ages, the set also contained a ring, gold bracelets, and a crystal container for oil. These items hold immense value, not only due to their gold content and precious stone decoration but also because of their deep historical and symbolic significance.

Interestingly, these jewels were used strictly during coronations, although they could also have been used in other significant occasions. For regular royal duties, kings often wore other, simpler jewels, which were rare exceptions during specific events, like the session of the Diet of Ems or in church ceremonies during major feasts.

How to reach the exhibition and what to expect in terms of security

You can enter from Hradčanské náměstí through the gate into the Southern Gardens and up the Bull staircase in the 3rd courtyard to the Old Royal Palace. There are restrooms available while you wait in line, and you can also buy light refreshments. Before entering the Vladislav Hall, everyone must pass through a security check, which includes going through a metal detector and having bags checked on an X-ray belt.

A changing room is available for visitors. Due to safety reasons, strollers are not allowed in the exhibition area or the waiting area, which is not wheelchair accessible. However, visitors in a wheelchair (with a valid ZTP or ZTP/P card, along with one accompanying person) can access the exhibition directly from Courtyard III. The same applies to school groups, but their visits need to be booked in advance. It is recommended to attend the exhibition with minimal belongings. You can take photographs without flash.