St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague

When King John of Luxembourg decided to build a church worthy of Prague that would rival the great cathedrals of Europe, he could not have imagined it would take 600 years to see it completed.

The Gothic design was given by the Avignon architect Mathieu D'Arras and indeed the St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala San Vita) closely resembles the grand French cathedrals. However, D'Arras died shortly after the assignment and Petr Parler, along with his two sons, was called to lead the works.

The Gothic design was given by the Avignon architect Mathieu D'Arras and indeed the St. Vitus Cathedral (Katedrala San Vita) closely resembles the grand French cathedrals. However, D'Arras died shortly after the assignment and Petr Parler, along with his two sons, was called to lead the works.

Before entering to admire the majesty of the interior, we recommend taking a few minutes to focus on the church's external façade, especially the Golden Gate (Zlatà Brana) which is located on the right and was used as the only entrance until the main entrance was created. A million colored tiles frame the scene with Charles IV and his wife Elizabeth of Pomerania kneeling in adoration of Christ in Glory. After you've refreshed your eyes with this masterpiece, you can then face the interior of the church.

After overcoming the grandeur of the cathedral's spacious areas, it is advisable to head towards the Choir where some of the most significant masterpieces of the church are found. At the center of the choir is the Imperial Tomb, created by the Flemish sculptor Alexandr Collin. It depicts Maximilian II of Habsburg, his father Ferdinand I, and his mother Anna Jagellonica. The wrought iron grille was made in 1500 by a "simple" blacksmith from Mala Strana. A staircase leads to the "Hrobka", the crypt where the tombs of Charles IV, Rudolf II, and other members of the Bohemian royal families are located.

To the right of the choir is the most important chapel of the Cathedral, that of St. Wenceslas, which houses the relics of Prague's Patron Saint. Built by Peter Parler between 1362 and 1367, it hosts a statue of the saint from the 1300s worshipped by the faithful. About 1300 Bohemian gemstones used to decorate the walls around the frescoes depicting the life of Jesus can be seen shimmering. The upper part is dedicated to the saint's life. The knocker on the door adjacent to the ambulatory is the one to which the saint remained attached, even after his murder by his brother Boleslaus.

The other saint featured in St. Vitus Cathedral is St. John of Nepomuk, whose silver tomb rivals that of St. Wenceslas in terms of luxury. Two tons of silver were used to construct the tomb, which Johann Bernhard Fischer and his sons skillfully crafted in 1736.

Address: Prague Castle.

How to get there:

Tram No. 22 stop Pražský hrad and then a 5-minute walk to reach the entrance of the Second Courtyard.

Tram No. 22 stop Královský letohrádek

This access goes through the Royal Gardens and is only open in summer. It takes about 15-20 minutes on foot to reach the entrance of the Castle Riding School.

Tram No. 22 stop Pohořelec and a 10-minute walk to reach the Castle Square.

Tram No. 22 to Mala Strana Square then via Zámecká Street and immediately left on Thunovská Street. From here begins a climb with views of the rooftops of Mala Strana leading to the main entrance of the Castle.

Opening Hours:

November - March

Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 16:00

Sunday 12:00 - 16:00

April - October

Monday - Saturday 09:00 - 17:00

Sunday 12:00 - 17:00

Ticket Price:

The historic part is accessible only with a ticket for Prague Castle. Free entry is only in the neogothic part.