St. Vitus Cathedral is the most impressive Catholic building in the entire city and is located within Prague Castle.
St. Vitus Cathedral, whose full name is the Cathedral of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert, is one of the symbols of Prague.
The modern building is the third church erected on this site, following a rotunda built by St. Wenceslas in 929 and the Basilica dating back to 1060.
Construction of the current Gothic-style church took over six hundred years, beginning in 1344 by order of Prince Wenceslas and finally completed in 1929.
About thirty coronations of Bohemian princes, kings, and queens have taken place here. The cathedral houses the crown and scepter of Bohemia as well as the tombs of important figures in Czech history, including saints, kings, and archbishops.
St. Vitus Cathedral has several entrances, but the original one is the Golden Gate, located to the right of the current entrance.
The gate is so named for its golden mosaic depicting scenes from the Last Judgement and is used as an entrance only during special ceremonies.
Above the main entrance is the classic rose window depicting various scenes from the Bible. On either side are narrow side aisles flanked by decorated chapels.
Many of the chapels are adorned with large stained-glass windows. These chapels are dedicated to a particular saint and often contain a relic or a golden altar depicting scenes from the saint’s life.
Of all the tombs and works of art present, the most impressive is the tomb of St. John of Nepomuk. This Baroque burial place, completely covered in silver, is located opposite the Gothic chapels. The tomb is draped in a deep red baldachin supported by divine angels.
St. John of Nepomuk was much beloved in the capital. He was martyred and drowned in the Vltava River when he refused to divulge the secrets of the Queen’s confessional. A statue dedicated to him stands on Charles Bridge, which spans the Vltava River.
The true heart of the Cathedral is the Chapel of St. Wenceslas.
It houses the tomb of St. Wenceslas, patron saint of the entire Czech Republic. The chapel is decorated with frescoes dating back to the 1300s that recount the Passion and life of Jesus. The saint’s relics are still kept inside his original tomb, covered by a red and gold embroidered cloth.
