Travel Tips

Send Photo to a Friend

Guard Band

The band

THIS PAGE WAS WRITTEN FOR A VT MEMBER WHO WAS DOING A THESUS ON GUARD CHANGES:

The band starts gathering at the castle at 11:45. Here are some walking down Hradcanske namesti.

Send Photo to a Friend

Guards marching down Hradcanske namesti

March down Hradcanske

Today was the busiest I have seen it. The group marches down Hradcanske namesti right on noon. There is a guard at the front, behind him is 3X10 rows of guards. The guard behind the leader does not hold any weapons, but has large white gloves. There are two guards that march a few paces at the rear of the rows. They march through the gates and line up facing north in two rows.

Send Photo to a Friend

Changing of the guards

The changing of the guards

Then three guards walk from inside the grounds. A guard followed by the 2 reliefs. They walk through the gates and stop at the kerb. They bang the butts of their guns on the ground then turn. The reliefs march until they are parallel with the shelters?/posts and turn to face it.

Send Photo to a Friend

The change

As they walk up to the post the other guard steps aside. The relief guard straightens himself up before he turns to take over the post.

Send Photo to a Friend

Changing of the guards at noon

Inside the grounds...

I WENT BACK A SECOND DAY TO GATHER MORE SPECIFIC INFO:
At 11:50 the band enters the northern building of the 1st courtyard via a gate (to the left of the 1st courtyard gates and buildings - ie. 'left' when standing looking at the castle from Hradcanske namesti) from Hradcanske namesti.
The band goes to the first floor and open the windows facing into the first courtyard.
11:55 Guards entered the 1st courtyard to move the crowds back from around the sentry.
11:58 14 guards exit northern building into the first courtyard. A leader with sword out of sheath?, yellow belt and one yellow > on sleeve; next a guard, purple belt,2 white >> on sleeve and bayoneted rifle; next a banner (banner is on a large white pole with gold point, I think the Czech crest on a rectangular flag) carrying guard with "large white gloves", different flat cording on uniform; then a guard; then 2x5 line of guards all with purple belts and two yellow arrows on their sleeves. They line up along the northern building, leader puts sword into sheath and ‘tells guards to lower arms?’ they lower their rifles and space themselves to arms length.
12:00 Band starts to play from first floor windows. As the hradcanske guards make their way down the square. As they enter the gates they lower their weapons. When they are in the courtyard they stop turn to the north building and walk 16 paces forward. At this point they are still in three lines of nine.
The leaders take their swords back out and the all guards raise their guns. Leaders say something and raise their swords. The leaders then escort the white gloved banner guards to between the two groups. The band start to play and the banner is handed over to the new banner man (with the big white gloves!). All guns are then lowered (only by the guards on the left) with a bang on ground as the leader and banner holders return to their lines.
The Hradcanske groups first line then lower their weapons, then the second. The band starts playing. The back line of nine then turn and march…5 in the direction of the second courtyard (to change the sentry at northern and eastern gates – there are 2 sentries at each gate!!!) and three start marching to the western gate (SO I WAS WRONG!!) . That leaves the two lines of nine guards from Hradcanske. The two leaders wait inside the northern building while the changing of the guards takes place. The band does not play during the actual changing of the guards, but starts up again when they old sentry’s walk back through to the first courtyard. They walk around the Hradcanske guards and line up at the end of the other group of guards. The ‘change of guards leader with rifle’ rejoins Hradcanske group(and has yellow belt and yellow strip on sleeve). Band stops.
Then they wait….
12:09 Guards return from other gates, post holders join guards (old shift), the leader joins the end of Hradcanske guards (yellow..etc)
12:10 Sword carrying leaders return to centre, 2 Hradcanske guards march to centre, exchange words then march back to their lines. The old guards are then marched out through gates and up Hradcanske while the band plays. The Hradcanske guards then march into the northern building to drum beats only with banner.