Coronation Cloak
The Coronation Cloak, which has been preserved at Prague Castle, is made of luxurious
silk material, called gold lily. A pattern of the cloth is made of a silk thread wound around
a flat golden wire (purl). The design of the cloak itself is semi-circular, without sleeves,
prolonged at the back to form a train. It is 312 cm wide and measures in length 236 cm from
the neckline to the end of the train. It is entirely edged with ermine - the white winter
coat of a stoat - which, because it is so precious and rare, is considered to be the fur
for kings. Researchers have succeeded in dating it more precisely to the beginning of
the 17th century, probably worn in the reign of Ferdinand II. He was crowned the Czech
king in 1617, and as it has been recorded, was clothed in a "gold-lily cloak". The last
king to be clad in the Czech coronation attire was Ferdinand V when he was crowned
the Czech king in 1836. Since then the coronation apparel is only of historical
and art-historical significance. It does, however, highlight a unique collection
of rulers' apparel and their fragments, which have been preserved at Prague Castle
since 10th century.
The Chapel of the Holy Cross in Prague Castle’s Second Courtyard houses an extraordinary display of masterpieces amassed from the 11th century for the St. Vitus Church and Cathedral treasury.
