Empress Maria Theresa Entrance, Prague Stock Photo

Prague Castle was heavily damaged during the 1742 Siege of Prague, part of the War of the Australian Succession. When the fighting ended in 1748 and Maria Theresa’s claim as Queen of Hungary was vindicated, the Empress hired Nicolo Pacassi to begin extensive renovations of Prague Castle. Among the additions was this Maria Theresa Entrance to Rosenberg Palace, an Institute for Noblewomen. The first abbess of this school in 1755 was the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa.