St. Vitus Cathedral: Prague’s Crown Jewel of Gothic Grandeur
St. Vitus Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic art in Prague. It is located inside Prague Castle, between the second and third courtyards. The Chapel of St. Wenceslas and the Royal Crypt are must-visit highlights.
The Heart of Prague
The true heart of Prague is located high above the city: inside the large castle that dominates the skyline, almost like an enchanted residence, you’ll find the Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus (Cathedral of the Holy Life). This is where the coronations of Czech kings and queens took place. If you add that it’s also a burial place for patron saints, rulers, nobles, and archbishops, it becomes clear why St. Vitus Cathedral is the largest and most important church in the entire Czech Republic.
The Evolution of St. Vitus Cathedral
However, what we see today is not the original building dedicated to the saint but the third church constructed under the same name at this site. The first construction dates back to around the year 925 when Duke Wenceslas, later canonized as a Saint, founded a Romanesque rotunda here. The choice of naming it after St. Vitus was due to a relic—an arm of the saint—that Wenceslas possessed. After 1060, the building was transformed into a three-nave basilica with two bell towers, coinciding with the establishment of the Prague bishopric in 973 and the foundation of the Chapter of St. Vitus, a significant cultural and administrative institution.
Charles IV’s Gothic Vision
The church’s third and final transformation was led by Emperor Charles IV, who began construction of a Gothic cathedral in 1344. Charles profoundly influenced the architectural landscape of Prague, and St. Vitus Cathedral was one of his most cherished projects. He entrusted the construction to two notable builders: Matthias of Arras and Peter Parler. The French builder Matthias was known for his work on the grand Palace of the Popes in Avignon. He laid out the church’s fundamental structure, with its vertical design supported by a network of flying buttresses and the apse’s chapels. However, after Matthias’s death in 1352, the young German architect Peter Parler continued the work. Parler, only 23 years old, brought boldness and innovation, leaving behind his mark through details such as the Chapel of St. Wenceslas.
Construction and Completion
Despite the efforts of several rulers, St. Vitus Cathedral remained unfinished for centuries, resulting in architectural discrepancies, like the Renaissance-style top of the main bell tower. It wasn’t until the second half of the 19th century that construction resumed in earnest, and, thankfully, the work adhered to a neo-Gothic style to maintain a cohesive aesthetic. The cathedral was finally completed in 1929, almost 600 years after construction began!
Entering St. Vitus Cathedral
Visitors now enter the cathedral via the western façade through the Golden Gate (Zlata Brana), adorned with bronze reliefs depicting scenes from the cathedral’s history and legends of St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert.
The Interior of St. Vitus Cathedral
Above the south entrance, you’ll find the Mosaic of the Last Judgement, an outstanding piece of art made from one million pieces of glass and stone, dating back to 1370. It depicts Christ in glory, flanked by Emperor Charles IV, his wife, and other saints, while Satan lurks amid the flames of hell.
At the center of the choir, juxtaposed with the main altar, lies the Imperial Tomb, created by Alexandr Collin. Surrounding the choir are several chapels, the most famous being the Chapel of St. Wenceslas, which houses a 14th-century tomb containing the relics of the saint. The chapel features early 16th-century frescoes depicting scenes from both the life of the saint and Jesus. Its decoration includes Bohemian semiprecious stones.
On the southwestern side of the chapel, a small door with seven locks leads to the Crown Chamber (Korunní komora), which holds the Bohemian crown jewels. The chamber isn’t open to the public, and its keys are held by seven different individuals, including the Czech President.
The Royal Crypt and Other Highlights
The Royal Crypt houses the remains of various royals and offers a glimpse into the early history of the cathedral, revealing parts of the previous Romanesque basilica and the original round church. Since the 1930s, several members of the Bohemian royal family, including Charles IV and Rudolf II, have been buried here in sarcophagi.
Another must-see is the Royal Oratory, which contains the silver sarcophagus of St. John of Nepomuk. According to legend, when the saint was exhumed in 1721, his tongue was still intact. He was later canonized, and his remains were entombed with great ceremony.
Don’t miss the Wallenstein Chapel (Valdstejnska kaple), which houses the tombs of its two architects, Mathias of Arras and Peter Parler, both of whom passed away in the mid to late 14th century.
Useful Information
To reach St. Vitus Cathedral, head to the Third Courtyard of Prague Castle. The ticket for visiting paid sections of the cathedral is included in the Prague Castle ticket, which costs approximately 350 Czech crowns (around 12-13 euros). Visits are paused during religious services.
