St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala svateho Vita) description and photos - Czech Republic: Prague (Topic)

St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala svateho Vita) description and photos - Czech Republic: Prague. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Katedrala svateho Vita.

Photo and description

St. Vitus Cathedral is the main Czech church. The Gothic temple was founded by Charles IV in connection with the rise of the Prague bishopric to an archbishopric in 1344. The design of the cathedral is the work of the French master Mate from Arras, who led the construction until 1352, after which the architect Peter Parler and his sons continued. Construction was completed only in the second half of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century. The western neo-Gothic facade is characterized by two narrow towers enclosing a high facade pediment.

Among the most interesting premises of the St. Vitus Cathedral is the St. Wenceslas Chapel, built in 1366. The relics of the national saints of the Czech Republic are buried here. In the center of the chapel there is a Gothic stone tombstone of St. Wenceslas, dating from the 14th century, the work of Kamil Hilbert, adorned with gilded moldings and precious stones.

The crown jewels of Czech rulers are kept in the Coronation Chamber, for the opening of which seven key keepers must gather. The crown was dedicated to the main patron saint of the Czech lands - St. Wenceslas and was probably made in 1345. The rod and orb are dated to the 1st floor. XVI century. The sword of St. Wenceslas and the coronation cross are also kept here.

The presbytery with the vaults of the cathedral is the oldest part of the cathedral, dating from 1344-1385. The large windows on the high choir are glazed with beautiful stained-glass windows. Three of them are filled with compositions of the Holy Trinity with saints (1946-1948). Above the arcades with columns between the main and side naves, there is a triforium, above which there are busts of members of the family of Emperor Charles IV.

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Topic: St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala svateho Vita) description and photos - Czech Republic: Prague.