Prague – St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral

Of the many buildings that compose the Prague Castle complex, St. Vitus Cathedral is the most prominent.  It is the spiritual symbol of the Czech Republic and a gothic masterpiece that has been the site of the coronation of many Czech kings and queens.

This is the third church built on this site.  The first was a pagan temple.  Then in 929, a domed rotunda was commissioned by Duke Wenceslas I and consecrated to St. Vitus, because the duke had acquired a holy relic (the arm of St. Vitus) from Emperor Henry I. 

When the Roman Catholic bishopric at Prague was founded in 1060, the rotunda was converted to a basilica with two steeples.  The present-day cathedral was commissioned by Charles IV in 1344 and took nearly six centuries to complete. 

The first builders, Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler, built the chancel with a ring of chapels, St. Wenceslas Chapel, the Golden Portal, and the lower part of the main steeple.

Although Parler began construction of the large southern steeple, he did not complete it. It achieved its originally planned height after being crowned with the Renaissance helmet at its summit in the 16^th century.

Work was intermittent, and for many centuries the church sat uncompleted.  The final phase of construction took place between 1873-1929. 

The western side of the cathedral is marked by two tall towers and the Rose Window, inspired by cathedral windows in Paris.  It dates from the 1920s and depicts scenes from the Creation.  The visitor entrance is on the western side.

The Golden Portal is the former main entrance to the cathedral.  Above it is a 14^th century Venetian art mosaic polished with gold of the Last Judgment, with Jesus surrounded by angels and kneeling Czech patrons.

The royal mausoleum, where kings, queens, and patron saints are interred, is located under in the chancel of the cathedral in front of the high altar. 

Perhaps the most outstanding room in the cathedral, the St. Wenceslas Chapel, where lies the tomb of the patron saint and site of the original rotunda, is decorated with beautiful original 14^th century frescoes of the Passion Cycle and over 1,300 semi-precious stones. 

Another band of decorations commemorates the life of St. Wenceslas and the magnificent chandelier lights the interior.  Every coronation began here when the kings went here to pray.  Understandably, the chapel is not open to visitors, but it can be seen through the entrance.  (Note: September 28 is St. Wenceslas Day.)

A door in the southwest corner of the chapel leads to the Crown Chamber in which the priceless Bohemian Crown Jewels are stored.  The St. Wenceslas Crown dates from 1347 when Charles IV had it made for his coronation.

But don’t count on seeing them…they were displayed only nine times in the 20^th century!  And don’t even try to get near them...they are in an iron safe behind that locked door with seven locks and seven individual key holders who guard the keys! 

Here is a collection of 14 videos of St. Vitus Cathedral all in one place. The second one, “St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague” (1:43) is a good brief overview.