St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrála svatého Víta)
St. Vitus Cathedral is a temple that adorns the historic center of the Czech capital; the dominant feature of Prague Castle. It is one of the most famous long-built buildings in Europe: authentic medieval Gothic is seamlessly combined with Baroque elements and skillful neo-Gothic stylizations. Travelers who have been to Western European cathedrals like the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris have a lasting impression of the spectacular but gloomy art of the Middle Ages. St. Vitus Cathedral, bursting with light, completely destroys this stereotype. It turns out that the Gothic can not only remind of the insignificance of man, but also inspire him, give new strength.
- History of St. Vitus Cathedral
- Name of the cathedral
- Significance of the cathedral for modern Bohemia
Architectural features - Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral
- Tourist information
- How to get there
History of St. Vitus Cathedral
As is typical of many religious buildings, St. Vitus Cathedral did not arise from nothing. About 4 centuries before it was built a compact round Romanesque church, later a more spacious basilica, in which the monarchs of the first Czech dynasty of Přemyslovic were crowned. The new building, laid in 1344, had no less serious tasks: the cathedral was to be the place for the coronation and repose of royalty, and at the same time the main treasury of the country.
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Royal Regalia
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Tourist Information
The cathedral is open to guests from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the peak tourist season, from April to October. From November through March, it closes earlier, at 4 pm. On Sunday, visitors are welcome from noon. Entrance to St. Vitus Cathedral is free, but you can see all the chapels and secret rooms only as part of a paid tour of Prague Castle. Familiarization with the so-called “small district” costs 250 Czech crowns, the “large” – 350. The temple holds organ music concerts on a special schedule, which can be specified on the official website.
.How to get there
Prague Castle is closed for transportation, so tourists have to walk a lot. To get to St. Vitus Cathedral, it is most convenient to get off at the streetcar stop of route 22 “Pražský Hrad”. The streetcar in Prague is the main mode of public transportation along with the metro, and during the opening hours of the temple it runs strictly according to the schedule, on average once every 10 minutes. From the stop you should walk about 300 meters south, turning east just after the Picture Gallery of Prague Castle. If you still have energy left after seeing the cathedral, you can visit this interesting museum with paintings by Titian and Rubens for 150 CZK.
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