St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

St. Vitus Cathedral by night. Photo Eugene Wei.

Panoramic view of St Vitus Cathedral. Photo Karel Hladky.

Closer look at the splendid Gothic exterior. Public domain photo.

A lovely golden mosaic decorates the facade. Photo Wayne McLean.

The soaring Gothic nave, looking east. Photo Janusz Leszczynski.

Apse with stained glass windows. Photo Thomas Berg.

Chapel of St Wencelas. Photo Christopher Chan.

Its soaring spires visible from all over Prague, the Gothic St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrála sv Vita) is one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe. Construction on the present building began in 1344 and was not completed until the 20th century.

History

Located inside Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral has a long history that extends from its founding in the 10th century to its final completion in the 20th century. The original church, on a rotunda plan, was founded by "good king" St. Wenceslas (of Christmas carol fame) in 925. This was replaced with a Romanesque basilica in the late 11th century.

Work on the present building began in 1344. Most of it is by the 22-year-old German architect Peter Parler, who also designed the Charles Bridge and other Prague treasures.

The Hussite wars and then the Thirty Years' War halted constructed on the cathedral for several centuries. It was not until the 20th century that the western side of the cathedral and its two towers were completed. Although modern, they were constructed according to Parler's original plans.

What to See

Above the south entrance to the cathedral (through the Golden Portal) is the Last Judgment mosaic. A remarkable work of art in itself, it is also notable in that mosaics are quite rare in northern Europe. The work dates from the 1370s and is made of 1 million pieces of glass and stone. In the center it depicts Christ in glory, adored by Charles IV, his wife and several saints; on the left, the risen dead and angels; and on the right, Satan surrounded by hellfire.

Inside, the square Chapel of St. Wenceslas (Svatováclavská kaple) holds a 14th century tomb with the saint's holy relics. St. Wenceslas was prince of Bohemia and the "good king" of Christmas carol fame. He founded the original church of St. Vitus on this site in 925 and was killed by his brother four years later. The chapel was built by Peter Parler between 1344 and 1364.

A small door with seven locks in the south-western corner of the St. Wenceslas Chapel leads to the Crown Chamber (Korunní komora) containing the Bohemian Coronation Jewels. It is not open to the public and its seven keys are kept by seven different people.

The Royal Crypt contains remains of various royals, but is primarily interesting for the visual history of the cathedral it provides. On the way down the stairs you can see parts of the old Romanesque basilica and the original rotunda church.

A more notable burial is the Sarcophagus of St. John of Nepomuk. According to legend, when Nepomuk was exhumed in 1721, his tongue was found to be not only preserved but pumping with blood. This tale likely served a political purpose: the Church and the Habsburgs needed a new folk hero to replace the reforming heretic Jan Hus. A few years later, Nepomuk was canonized and buried with great ceremony in the present 3,700-pound ornate silver tomb. His tongue was enshrined in its own reliquary.

The Wallenstein Chapel (Valdstejnská kaple) contains the tombstones of its two architects, Mathias d'Arras and Peter Parler, who died in the 14th century.

Quick Facts

Names:	St. Vitus Cathedral; Katedrála sv Vita; Prague Cathedral
Type of site:	Cathedral; Catholic shrine
Faith:	Roman Catholic
Architecture:	Gothic
Dates:	10th cent. to 1929
Website:	http://www.hrad.cz/
Hours:	Daily 9-5, April-October; daily 9-4, November-March.
Cost:	The western section is free; the chapels, crypt and tower require the castle-wide ticket.

Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Prague Map or get our free Google Earth download.

Official Site of Prague Castle
Chram Svateho Vita - Fodors.com
Prazsky Hrad and Katedrála sv Vita (Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral) - World Travel Guide
St. Vitus Cathedral - IgoUgo user review, September 8, 2003
St. Vitus Cathedral - IgoUgo user review, November 30, 2002
Streetwise Map of Prague
Francesca Pique, Conservation Of The Last Judgment Mosaic, St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague.
Vladimir Soukup, Prague (Eyewitness Travel Guides).
Rick Steves, Rick Steves' Prague and the Czech Republic 2005.
Neil Wilson, Lonely Planet Prague.