From the times of Vladislaus II Jagiello (1456-1516) the residence in Prague Castle had two parts. After a costly refurbishment, the Old Royal Palace was adapted as the King's seat and a new palace was built for the Queen by the White Tower on the west side of Prague Castle.
Later it became the residence of Queen Anne Jagiello (1503-1547), wife of Ferdinand I, and after her death, in 1547, it became the residence of the second-born, Bohemian Governor Archduke Ferdinand II. Although not much has survived after numerous reconstructions, one can get a rough idea of its extent and furnishings on the basis of several fragments, written sources and iconography.