Cathedral of St. Vitus. Cathedrals of Prague St. Vitus Cathedral history

As is typical for many religious buildings, St. Vitus Cathedral did not arise out of nowhere. About 4 centuries before it, a compact round temple in the Romanesque style was built, and later a more spacious basilica, in which the monarchs of the first Czech Přemyslid dynasty were crowned. The new building, founded in 1344, was faced with no less serious tasks: the cathedral was to become a place for the coronation and resting place of royalty, and at the same time - the main treasury of the country.

The famous Flemish architect Matthias from Arras began work on the project, but due to his death, the task was entrusted to the German specialist Peter Parler, who determined the architectural appearance of the entire historical center of Prague. His works include the Charles Bridge and the Church of All Saints in the capital, as well as many small churches in the Czech Republic and Germany. The new master was an experienced sculptor, so he emphasized the volumetric decor of the cathedral. By the end of his life, he managed to complete only part of the transept and the choir. The architect's sons completed the construction of the southern side of the temple and part of the tower. He was unable to complete what he started; his plan was too ambitious. In the following centuries, construction progressed extremely slowly due to financial reasons or due to military actions.

In the 15th – 16th centuries, work on St. Vitus Cathedral was continued by the architects B. Reith and B. Wohlmuth. Thanks to their efforts, the northern part of the cathedral with a tower was built, which made it possible to hold services and perform ceremonies in the still unfinished temple.

Construction of the cathedral was completed only at the beginning of the 20th century. The western part was completed by Czech architects according to the design of Peter Parler. The main work on the decoration of the temple was completed by 1929.

Name of the cathedral

Saint Vitus, the patron saint of the temple, was a Roman martyr from the times of early Christianity, who had no direct connection to the Czech Republic. In 1997, in honor of the millennium since the death of Bishop Adalbert of Prague, or, in the Czech tradition, Vojtěch, the cathedral received a new name - St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Vojtěch. Wenceslas is also a significant figure: he is a prince from the Premyslid family, the patron saint of the Czech Republic. Tourists, however, still use the old name under which the temple became famous throughout the world.

The significance of the temple for modern Czech Republic

Each new era added its own characteristic features to St. Vitus Cathedral. A new surge of patriotic feelings in the 19th century forced the Czechs to once again return to the issue of completing construction. A group of architects, experts in Gothic architecture, designed the western part of the building as close as possible to the original. Bright stained glass windows in the northern part of the cathedral appeared already in the 20th century. Finally, only in 1929, construction was officially completed. Now it is the largest museum and religious center in the capital, an organ hall with excellent acoustics, a repository of Czech history and a symbol of the unity of the nation. Important ceremonies are still held here, such as the farewell to Vaclav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic.

Architectural features

You can appreciate the gigantic size of the building from afar when admiring the panorama of Prague. Up close, due to the dense development of the square, it is impossible to take in the entire building and take a full-fledged general photograph of the dark Gothic walls with patina-covered baroque copper domes. To appreciate the beauty of the cathedral, you have to constantly walk with your eyes raised to the sky - perhaps this was the architects' intention. The length of the temple is 124 m, the height of the towers is from 82 to 96.5 m. The round rosette window on the façade of the cathedral, one of the last additions of the 20th century, reaches 10 m in diameter.

The grandeur of the building is fully realized when guests find themselves inside. High vaults, pointed arches and windows preserved from the Middle Ages, mysterious galleries in the side naves, separated from the main space by powerful columns - all this can be looked at for hours. Light penetrates the interior of the cathedral through colorful stained glass windows inspired by biblical history. The latest of them were made by masters based on sketches by Alphonse Mucha, the greatest Czech artist of the Art Nouveau era. In the upper tiers along the perimeter of the temple there is a balcony with busts: not only monarchs and church leaders, but also architects who participated in the construction are depicted for history.

Royal regalia

St. Vitus Cathedral still remains the repository of royal treasures, although the Czech Republic has long ceased to be a monarchy. The Chapel of St. Wenceslas, built during the time of Charles IV by Peter Parler (finished by 1367), is called a treasure trove of Gothic art. Here lies the body of the eternal ruler and defender of the country, and above the chapel in the Crown Chamber, the golden crown of St. Wenceslas, consisting of 4 heraldic lines, decorated with large stones - blood-red spinels and rubies, bottomless blue sapphires and dark green ones, is carefully protected from prying eyes. emeralds. Legend says that anyone who wears it incorrectly will not live a year. They say that only Hitler’s protector R. Heidrich decided to do this, and less than a year later he died in an assassination attempt (1942). A masterpiece of jewelry, slightly oversaturated with jewelry, was created in the 14th century, a more modest orb with reliefs from the history of King David and Adam and a scepter - somewhat later. Relics are put on display no more than once a decade, but as a consolation to tourists, exact copies of the royal regalia are on display. You can see them in the Sejm Meeting Hall, in the Old Royal Palace, located right next to the southern wall of the cathedral.

Cathedral spire Organ of St. Vitus Cathedral

The temple vault is supported by 28 columns. Twenty masters at different times created stained glass paintings for the temple, among them was the modernist Alphonse Mucha. The organ of St. Vitus Cathedral is considered one of the most beautiful in Europe.

The walls of the chapel are decorated with elaborate frescoes, decorated with gold and mosaics made of gems. In the middle there is a figure of St. Wenceslas in battle armor.

In the choir chapels you can see the tombstones of Czech rulers and bishops. In the chapel of St. Mary Magdalene lie the remains of Mathieu of Arasse and Peter Parler. In the chapel of John of Nepomuk there is a tombstone made of silver weighing about two tons. There are 23 chapels in the cathedral.

The space of the temple is divided in two by a triforium. This balcony-gallery divides St. Vitus Cathedral horizontally into an earthly part and a celestial sphere. The triforium contains busts of representatives of royal dynasties, archbishops and architects - the creators of the cathedral.

In front of the main altar, created in the 19th century by the masters Kranner and Moker, there is a white marble tombstone by the Dutchman Moline (1589). Its lid is decorated with relief images of Ferdinand I, his wife Anna Jagiellonka, and their son Maximilian II. This is the above-ground part of the mausoleum - below is the royal crypt. The entrance to it opens from the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Descending into the crypt, visitors will see the remains of the foundation of the old rotunda, discovered by archaeologists. There is also a royal crypt with sarcophagi of Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, George of Podebrady, Rudolf II and other rulers of the Czech Republic.

St. Vitus Cathedral is one of the must-see attractions on a tour of Prague Castle.

Tourist Information

The cathedral is open to guests from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the peak tourist season, from April to October. From November to March it closes earlier at 16:00. On Sunday, visitors are expected from noon. Entrance to St. Vitus Cathedral is free, but you can see all the chapels and secret rooms only as part of a paid tour of Prague Castle. An acquaintance with the so-called “small district” costs 250 Czech crowns, the “large” one – 350. The temple holds organ music concerts according to a special schedule, which can be clarified on the official website.

How to get there

Prague Castle is closed to transport, so tourists have to walk a lot. To get to St. Vitus Cathedral, the most convenient way is to get off at tram stop number 22 “Prague Castle”. The tram in Prague is the main form of public transport, along with the metro; during the opening hours of the temple, it runs strictly on schedule, on average once every 10 minutes. From the stop you need to walk about 300 m to the south, turning east immediately after the Prague Castle Picture Gallery. If you still have energy after visiting the cathedral, you can visit this interesting museum with paintings by Titian and Rubens for 150 crowns.

And being one of the most striking examples of Gothic architecture in Eastern Europe, it is the largest and most significant temple not only in Prague, but throughout the Czech Republic. Its full name is the Cathedral of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Vojtech. It was in this cathedral that Czech kings were crowned for many centuries, royal weddings and christenings took place here, and the tomb of Bohemian kings and Prague archbishops is located here.

St. Vitus Cathedral is truly a majestic structure: the length of its main nave is 124 meters and its height is 34 meters. The southern tower of the cathedral reaches a height of almost 100 meters! This is not only the tallest tower of the cathedral, but also the tallest in Prague, it can be seen from almost all corners of the Czech capital.

The history of the construction of the cathedral is complex and dates back six centuries. The first stone was laid in the mid-14th century, and the final stage of construction was completed only in the mid-20th century. The great masters of their time worked on the construction of the cathedral and, if you are interested in details, you can find them in another article dedicated to the cathedral -.

Take your time to enter the cathedral, walk around it and admire the picturesque facades of the Cathedral of St. Vitus. They seem to be woven from stone lace. You can easily see the interweaving of branches, leaves and flowers in these laces.

And, of course, your attention will be attracted by the expressive figures of gargoyles decorating the gutters. These monsters are guards who, according to medieval ideas, protected the cathedral from demons.

South facade

During the time of the kings, St. Vitus Cathedral was entered from the south through the Golden Gate; it was they who served as the ceremonial entrance for. The entrance is so named because of the beautiful and unique gilded glass mosaic located above the gate arches. The mosaic, created in the 14th century under Peter Parler by Venetian masters, depicts the Last Judgment. The stained glass window above the mosaic continues the theme of this biblical story.

Golden Gate

South Tower

One of the features of the south tower of St. Vitus Cathedral is that its main part, like the entire cathedral, is Gothic, while its upper part is made in the Renaissance style, and it is topped with a Baroque dome, with a shining three-meter Czech lion on the spire. This fusion of architectural styles was made possible due to the lengthy construction of the cathedral: the main part of the tower was built under Charles IV, and the green onion roof was completed at the end of the 18th century and was not changed when the construction of the cathedral was completed. The southern tower is also notable for its curious clock, which has only one hand. The upper dial is used to determine the hours, and the lower dial is used to determine the minutes.

South façade of the cathedral

You can climb the 297 steep steps to the observation deck at the top of the south tower and not only see magnificent Prague in full view, but also see the largest church bell in the Czech Republic. Sigismund, as it is called, was cast in the 16th century, weighs 18 tons, and is 2 meters high. One of the many Prague legends tells how Sigismund was lifted to the tower: they say that they could only bring 16 pairs of horses to the bell, and all the ropes were torn from its weight; he was dragged to the tower with the help of an ingenious invention of the royal daughter and a silk rope woven by her, but when learned foreigners wanted to know the secret of this device, the princess ordered the mechanism to be destroyed, and no one learned the secret.

Western façade

The western facade of St. Vitus Cathedral was made at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries during the final stage of construction of the cathedral. There are three portals here, one of which today is the main entrance to the cathedral.

Above it is a beautiful stained glass rose window with biblical scenes of the creation of the world. The famous paired 82-meter towers of the cathedral also rise here.

Under the stained-glass windows of the northern and southern walls of the temple there is a stone gallery, decorated with sculptural portraits of King Charles IV, members of his family, the clergy and the two first builders of the cathedral - Mathieu of Arras and Peter Parler, created in the 14th century.

The organ of St. Vitus Cathedral is one of the best in Europe, but it does not sound often - only on church holidays. Designed and built by Peter Parlež, the magnificent ribbed arched vault is supported by 28 columns. The altar and the royal tomb are located in the eastern part of the cathedral, and there are chapels along the walls, there are 21 of them in the cathedral.

*Chapel is a small separate room in a large temple, dedicated to a saint and used for prayer.

Chapel of St. Wenceslas

In the 14th century, John of Nepomuk was the queen’s confessor and refused to reveal the secret of confession to the king, who suspected adultery, which earned him the wrath of the sovereign. By order of King Wenceslas IV, he was tortured and thrown in a sack into the waters of the Vltava from the Charles Bridge. He was later buried in St. Vitus Cathedral, and at the beginning of the 18th century he was canonized.

The tombstone of the grave of St. John of Nepomuk is located in the altar part of the cathedral, but it can be seen almost from the very entrance to the cathedral. Created in the first half of the 18th century by an Austrian architect from two tons of pure silver, this masterpiece of Baroque art is simply dazzling with its magnificence.

They say that one of the lamps on the saint’s tombstone was gold. The master who made it became impoverished, and was threatened with prison for his debts. He was in despair; there was no one to ask for help. In a dream, Saint John of Nepomuk appeared to him and ordered him to take a lamp made by a master from his grave, sell it and repay his debts. After the dream was repeated several times, the master decided to go to the saint’s grave and knelt there, and the lamp itself fell into his hands. The jeweler made a lot of jewelry from her gold, sold them and paid off his debts. When he returned to the grave of John of Nepomuk to thank the saint, he saw a golden lamp in the same place. Having become rich, the master made another golden lamp, surpassing the previous one in beauty, and wanted to hang it over the saint’s grave, but when he arrived at the grave, he discovered that the old lamp was gone - it had given way to a new one.

, - and this happened in 2006 - I was, without exaggeration, stunned by St. Vitus Cathedral. By that time, I had already heard more than once about the main temple in Prague. But when I found myself on the square in front of it, I was amazed by its scope and grandeur. A lot of questions immediately arose: who built all this beauty and how, why they named it in honor of St. Vitus, etc. Perhaps you are also interested in similar questions. Read this article, I will try to answer some of them.

I’ll immediately explain where we will look for answers so that they do not turn out to be an ordinary philistine fantasy. Firstly, over several visits to the Czech Republic I collected a good selection of reference materials on Prague, and secondly, in a small bookstore... on a small... Prague Castle I purchased a reputable publication by Czech historians, “Historical Prague”. By studying this manual and comparing a number of facts, you can understand a lot.

But while we clarify the name, let’s pay a little attention to the cathedral itself. Agree, even from afar you can see how huge and majestic it is:

Cathedral of St. Vitus It took almost 600 years to acquire the form in which it appears today. The first stone was laid by Charles IV in 1344, and the final construction work was completed in 1929. The cathedral was built with long interruptions. During this time, several architects managed to contribute to the design of the appearance and structural components of the cathedral.
There was no need to choose a place to build the temple; it had already been determined by history itself.

Back in 929, ruler Wenceslas, especially revered by the Czechs, built a small stone rotunda dedicated to St. Vitus at the highest point of the fortress. By that time, Vaclav had become imbued with the ideas of Christianity, which was just beginning to spread in Europe. He sought to instill Christian values ​​in his people. Wenceslas's faith was supported by the German king Henry I, who gave him a relic - the relics (part of the hand) of the young Sicilian Vitus, who died for his Christian views in the Roman Empire back in the 3rd century and was canonized.

These are probably rather boring facts, but they are important for understanding why St. Vitus Cathedral is named so. I'll add a little more.

When Vaclav himself died as a result of a conspiracy by his brother, who held different religious views, the people and the church conferred holiness on Vaclav. He was buried in the Svyatovitskaya rotunda. Another person who actively preached Christianity and died for his activities at the end of the 10th century was buried there - the Czech Bishop Vojtěch. And when in 1060 a basilica was erected on the site of the rotunda, they named it in honor of three saints: Vitus, Wenceslas and Vojtech.

When the most enlightened Czech monarch, Charles IV, decided to renovate the entire Prague Castle, the first thing he planned was to erect a grandiose cathedral in the holiest and most revered place - on the square containing the Svyatovitsky rotunda and the surrounding Basilica of the Three Saints. In the future cathedral, the king planned to hold the most solemn ceremonies, as well as store the most valuable state treasures and relics.

The cathedral was dedicated to the same saints as the basilica. And by the way, the current official name honors three saints who gave their lives for Christianity: the Cathedral of St. Vitus, Wenceslas and Vojtěch. But how many official names have stuck with the people? A rhetorical question. Even the Czechs don’t remember the full name, and even more so, the temple is known to us as the Cathedral of St. Vitus.

A little history of the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral

Charles IV entrusted the design of the cathedral to the architect of the papal court Mathieu Arrascom. Then his work was continued by a young talented Czech architect Petr Parlerzh. Parlerzh spent 47 years building, then his sons, but they only managed to build the eastern part of the cathedral. If you look at the photo, this is the right part, only reaching the central tower. And the eastern walls of the cathedral look like this:

But Parler's merits are enormous. In I mentioned that Parler built the most important facilities. As for the Cathedral of St. Vitus in Prague, those beautiful vaults that still decorate the temple were constructed based on his design.

He also designed the Golden Gate, decorated with Venetian mosaics and perfectly preserved to this day. for a long time served as the central entrance to the temple. Look at a fragment of a gilded glass mosaic in the photo:

When did that tall central bell tower appear? This is the south tower, and it is really high - 96 m. In any case, it will give you problems when you try to photograph the cathedral in its full “height”. The central tower was worked on even under Parler, but the view that we see today was built only in 1556-1593. Look at the unusual clocks that adorn the tower. Do you see two dials? And each of them has only one arrow. So, the top one shows only hours, and the disk below shows only minutes. The question suggests itself: what time did I take this picture?

Between the dials there is a refined golden grille, behind which lies the main bell of the cathedral, called Sigmund. Its weight is 16 tons!

So what about our construction? Until the end of the 19th century, the cathedral still ended with a bell tower on the left wing, and there was no trace of those paired towers that represent the western façade of the cathedral. Only in 1873 the architect Joseph Kranner, working in the neo-Gothic style, has begun the last stage of construction. But his life was not enough to complete the construction of the temple at Prague Castle. His successor was Joseph Moker, which had already become famous by that time for its Gothic reconstruction. This is how the western facade was erected with 82-meter towers and a beautiful rose window 10 m in diameter. Only one cathedral in Europe has such a window, which is larger in size than the rose of St. Vitus Cathedral. This is the temple of St. Tekla -.

Visitors find themselves just in front of the western façade when they enter Prague Castle through the central gate. This is where the main entrance is now.

Visit to the cathedral

To enter St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, you do not need to buy tickets. Only the area for free access, unfortunately, is very limited. It ends at the level of the third chapel. Yes, from here you can see all the beauty of the central nave, the rose window, several stained glass windows of the famous Alphonse Mucha.

But the altar, the royal mausoleum, the silver sarcophagus of John of Nepomuk, many chapels (there are 21 chapels in the cathedral), the organ and many other treasures of the temple are available only with tickets. A must see! Now you have the opportunity to see the interior of the temple by turning to.

The underground part of the Royal Tomb is of particular interest. This is the Crypt, the entrance to which is located closer to the altar next to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Visit? Well, let's say it's not for everyone. All the Czech royals are buried in the Krypt. Personally, I am more attracted to the above-ground space of the cathedral: huge, majestic, beautiful in its strict Gothic lines.

Was I able to shed at least a little light on why St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague was named this way, and who gave this architectural masterpiece to so many generations? Friends, maybe you know some interesting facts about this most significant landmark of Prague. Please share in the comments.

Your euro guide Tatyana

Address: Pražský hrad III. nádvoří 48/2, 119 01 Prague 1.
Tel: 724-933-441.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 17:00;
in winter from 09:00 to 16:00;
Sunday from 12:00 to 16:00.
How to get there: by trams No. 1, 18, 22, 25, 56, 57, 91. Stop "Pražský hrad", then on foot.
There is no entrance fee.

Slowly, unhurriedly, the Vltava carries its waters. It erodes sandy fords and rises in a foamy wave, clinging to stones near the sheer cliff face. Reflected in the mirror surface, the willows of the Deer Moat wash their braided branches. The cockerel on the spire perked up, wants to get drunk, but the owner won’t let him go - the most significant monument in the Czech Republic, St. Vitus Cathedral. Rising 96 m high, he is all - the desire to heaven, the desire to get closer to the Heavenly Father, capturedwrought by the hands of mortals, the eternal dream of immortality.

The history of the creation of St. Vitus Cathedral

A thousand years have passed since Henry I presented Wenceslas with part of his right hand as a gift. St. Vitus. The relic was too valuable to simply be kept in a shrine. The prince decided to build a worthy repository for the relics. In 926 - 929, a rotunda rose and turned into a court temple. Almost 200 years later, it was rebuilt into a basilica with 3 naves, where the incorruptible remains of Vitus, Vaclav, and Vojtech found their eternal rest.
When the status of the bishopric of Prague was upgraded to an archbishopric, the Emperor of Rome, Charles IV, took up the task of remodeling the building. To realize the great plan, they invited the best architect from Avignon. The brilliant Matthias made the project, received the approval of the customers, and began work. He worked tirelessly for 7 years, erecting walls, arcades, and chapels. His mathematical mind demanded clarity of calculations, correctness of forms, not allowing deviations. Unfortunately, man has no control over the thread of fate: the Moirai spin it, cutting it when they see fit. The time has come to end the life of the first architect. In his place came another, a young dreamer, who saw in masonry not naked calculation, but art - a kind of sculpture. Petr Parler, continuing the work begun by his predecessor, introduced new daring ideas into the project. As a result, the main tower with the extraordinary beauty of the Golden Gate and the colossal vault crowning the main room will rise to the skies. After his death, his sons continued the business, but not for long.
Houses, like people, get sick, grow old, and deteriorate. This building did not escape a similar fate: wars, lack of finance, trial by fire, uprisings, robberies, a lightning strike that split the dome. Like an avalanche, sweeping away everything in its path, tragic events swept through, leaving the shrine unfinished. But Czech she loved her long-suffering child so much that she constantly tried to revive, help, put her on her feet.

In 1873 - 1929 carried out the final work - for the 1000th anniversary of its founding. The country invited the most talented decorative masters, artists, and restorers for interior and exterior decoration. Today we can admire the irresistible perfection of the creations of Alphonse Mucha and Franiszek Kisela, admiring, rejoicing, and being surprised.

Cathedral architecture

Its spiers are visible from distant corners of the capital. The wind gets tangled between the bells, trying to move them at least a little, but it fails. The sun's rays break into myriads of reflections on the precious metal, time freezes in amazement, clinging to the only clock hand. The grandeur of the building attracts with some mysterious force, takes you captive, and holds you near you for a long time. Your eyes are wide open from the abundance of elements that have their own secret meaning.
The southern portal is the central main entrance - the "Golden Gate", representing a delightful triple arch in the Gothic style. Above it is a mosaic depicting the Last Judgment: angels support Jesus as he administers justice. The patrons of the Czech lands ask for forgiveness and mercy. Vitus, Lyudmila, Sigismund, Wenceslaus, Adalbert, Procopius stand with their hands folded in prayer and their gaze turned to the Heavenly King. Below are figures of Charles IV and his wife. On the right hand of Christ are saved souls, and on the left are sinners condemned to fiery hell. The artists used gilded glass for the background of the mosaic, thousands of multi-colored pieces, up to 40 shades. This is an elegant, delicate work that requires patience and endurance. The stained glass window above completes the theme.
The bell tower is decorated with a gilded lattice behind which bells hang. The heaviest is "Zikmund". It took 16 pairs of horses to deliver it, but they couldn’t figure out how to lift this colossus to the bell tower. His eldest daughter approached the king with an unusual request: permission to raise the miracle bell. Everyone was amazed at the audacity, but the father allowed it. The princess built a strange mechanism and wove a silk rope. On the appointed day, in full view of a crowd of thousands, the girl did the impossible - the bell took its place, where it is located today. Pundits and courtiers tried to find out the secret of the engine, the young maiden only smiled after destroying her brainchild. A little higher is the stylized letter “P”, reminding descendants how much Rudolph II gave of his strength and finances, and even higher is a clock with one hand and 2 dials. One keeps an hourly countdown, the other keeps a minute and quarter countdown.
Climbing to the observation deck, you will see the capital in full view, but to do this you need to climb 287 steps without stopping! But you will feel very close to the clouds, although the height is only 56 m (the tower is 96 m).
On the bas-reliefs of the portals on the western side there are scenes from the life of builders and architects. A magnificent rosette will remind you of the creation of the world. The drains are made in the form of mystical creatures that scare away demons. Bizarre gargoyles with their mouths open angrily can be clearly seen when standing underneath them. You involuntarily feel awe, your knees become weak, you feel the desire to sit down in a half-bow, to pay tribute to the masters who, through the darkness of centuries, managed to convey the power of human thought and spirit in a man-made miracle, to sing the triumph of faith and talent.

Interior decoration

With our hearts beating strongly, we enter the canopy of the cathedral, look around, and remember the creators. The huge rectangular space (128x60 m) of the holy place is enveloped in light refracted in colored glass, separating the secular and otherworldly worlds. On 37 stained glass windows there are various scenes from the life of Cyril and Methodius. Little Vaclav and his grandmother St. Ludmila are also here - patrons of the Czech Republic. Curly women's hair, flowing, flowing clothes combined with lilies, tinted ovals, circles - a magnificent example of the Art Nouveau style.
Columns (28) along the perimeter support a lace vault that rises to 33.5 m. On the balcony (triforium) at a height of 14 m there are sculptural images of those who contributed to the epoch-making construction: kings, members of their families, bishops, architects. The striking resemblance of the sculptures to the originals seems unreal. Different expressions of eyes, smiles. Strictness, concentration, pulsating thought are discernible. Truly there is no limit to God's gift - talent.

Chapels of the shrine

There are 21 of them within these walls. There is no need to list all the decorations - you need to look. But I would like to talk about some, more memorable ones.
In the chapel, which bears the name of the Virgin Mary, stands the beautiful Trevira reliquary, made of silver, the custodian of the mortal remains of 43 saints. Jewelers decorated it with jewelry, on the walls there were frescoes from the life of St. Anna, under the floor there were graves of the Nostitsky family.
On the altar of the Chapel of the Holy Trinity is the life of Mary. On the gilded panels to the right of the Mother of God is Christ preaching to the people, Tenderness; on the left side are episodes of Candlemas and the Annunciation. Below them is one of the miracles: the transformation of water into wine at a wedding in Gaul.
The altar of John of Nepomuk's chapel is decorated with silver busts of saints. These are Vit, Vojtech, Vaclav, Kirill. The tombstone weighs 2 tons, representing a masterpiece of silver casting. Platinum and gold complement the luxury of a masterpiece created with public money. Its author is Fischer von Erlach. A statue of the martyr himself, angels supporting the coffin, a winged putti holding a katus, on which a tongue is visible as a reminder that he remained incorruptible, although scientists deny this fact.

Wenceslas Chapel

The relics of the saint were never transferred - the burial was always right here, above the rotunda, which became the basis of the structure. Dressed in armor, with a spear and shield, he froze against the background of a fresco inlaid with semi-precious stones and gems. In gilded frames, the wall paintings tell about the life of the prince. Stone and gilded floor slabs emphasize the overall impression - everything is unique, aimed at reverence, endless gratitude, and memory.

Crown Chamber

In it, behind seven locks, there are symbols of power: a scepter, an orb, a crown, a mantle. Only seven high-ranking men, led by the president, gathered together, can open it - each has his own key. Everything is made of pure gold: the crown weighs 2.5 kg, the scepter - more than 1 kg, the orb - 780 g. The noble metal is interspersed with sapphires, emeralds, spinels, and pearls. Highly artistic engraving of coronation scenes, entwined with grape leaves, tendrils, and flowers, spreads in mysterious script over the objects. The library houses a rare collection of manuscripts, and the outer wall is an example of Renaissance tombstones.

Repository of antiquities

Z Here many treasures of antiquity found their residence: the pinnacle of the jeweler's creations - the Trevira casket-crayfish, a wooden altar with a carved crucifix, the magic horns of Roland, the favorite of Charles IV. The legend says: the monarch found the relic and put it in a cache for safekeeping. During a severe fire, Ferdinand, thinking that the sound of the horn could drown out the sound of the melting bells, blew it. Residents of nearby houses panicked. Thinking that the end of the world had come, they jumped out of the windows and the ramparts, for the earth was shaking and the roar was terrible. Since then, there have been no brave souls who wanted to touch the magical artifact.
A concert of organ music is a true pleasure for gourmets; the instrument is one of the best in Europe.
After leaving the temple, looking back again at the amazing, unique Gothic monument, be sure to note the rooster on the spire. Legends say that initially there was an idol of Svyatovit on the top of the cliff. Bread and rolls of bread were brought to the altar of the main Slavic deity, and black roosters were sacrificed. This is how idolatry and Christianity came together: Svyatovit - Saint Vi T.

One of the most visited tourist places in Prague. Naturally, thousands of beautiful photographs have already been posted. But I want to know more and in more detail about this Council. Therefore, if there is a desire, I invite you

In fact, admission to St. Vitus Cathedral is absolutely free. There is not even a ban on photographs. But you can only examine a small part of it, at the entrance. We have a ticket, so we can go deep into the Cathedral. Let's not rush - let's still have a little history. Who is Saint Vitus? This name was absolutely unknown to me. Although "St. Vitus' disease" was widely known. But why is the most luxurious Cathedral in Prague dedicated to him?

There is little information about St. Vitus. He is commemorated together with his teacher Modest and nanny Criskentia on June 15. The cult of St. Vitus originated in the 5th century in Sicily and only reached Central Europe in the 8th-9th centuries.
The youth Vitus (he was from 7 to 12 years old) lived in Sicily during the time of Emperor Diocletian in a rich and noble family. His father “adhered to Hellenic wickedness,” and “the youth was granted by God the power to perform miracles.” He cast out demons and healed the sick. When the emperor ordered the boy to pray to the pagan gods, he refused. For which he was thrown into a cage with the lions, who did not touch him. The poor fellow was then thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil. But this was also useless. “Then the emperor ordered the holy martyrs Vitus and Modestus to be hanged on the martyrdom tree, along with them also Saint Criscentia, Vitova’s teacher, who, having come to that place, confessed herself to be a Christian, and denounced the king for his wickedness and tormenting the saints; then the torturer ordered the planing the naked bodies of the saints with iron tools. At the same time, Saint Vitus said to the king: “You show your strength as weak and worthy of laughter when you torture a woman.”

Now about the dance of St. Vitus. Since the 16th century, people in Germany and Italy have danced in front of statues of St. Vitus in order to stay healthy for the next year. According to some sources, these dances in Italy then began to be called tarantella, since they allegedly relieved the consequences of a tarantula bite. And then for some reason, a disease of the nervous system - chorea, in which twitching of the whole body occurs, also began to be called St. Vitus' disease.
This turned out to be an interesting Saint with many unknowns. What relationship St. Vitus had with King Charles the Fourth, who began the construction of this cathedral in 1344, I have never found out exactly. Although I read on Wikipedia that Wenceslas (later St. Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech Republic), who built a small chapel on this site in 905, had a sacred relic - the hand of St. Vitus.
During the reign of King Charles the Fourth, Prague experienced unprecedented prosperity.
But, obviously, all kinds of innovations and decorations of the city, including the construction of the Charles Bridge, did not allow the king to complete the construction of the Cathedral.
The cathedral was consecrated only 6 centuries later - in 1929! This is how the long-term construction turned out. Although looking at the Cathedral you would never say that it was built in the last century.
It was possible to photograph the entire Cathedral only from the Choirs side, i.e. behind. But here you can see how huge it is. The length of the Cathedral is 124 meters.

We approach the central entrance. St. Vitus Cathedral was built for the coronation of kings and for their repose in Eternity.
Do you see the central outlet? It is always placed above the entrance.
On the right are small turrets.

On one of these turrets is the Cockerel. Sometimes St. Vitus is depicted with a rooster.
This is not my photo - this is the famous photographer Phil Douglas. I am always happy when I see such wonderful photographs. Amazing!
The building in the center is the Church of St. George. Do you recognize? We've already been there.

This is already my photo. Do you feel the difference? But you will have to be content with them. Because I really want to show you all the wonders of this neo-Gothic structure.
These are the gargoyles. Of course, these are not the gorules and chimeras of Notre Dame de Paris, about which I wrote >. And their purpose is very prosaic - water drainage. But still impressive.

Just like this incomparable portal - the entrance to the Cathedral.

Let's also go around the Cathedral from the side. There's a lot to see here.

This is the bell tower of St. Vitus. Here, behind this amazing gilded grille, the Sigmund, the heaviest bell in the Czech Republic, has hung since 1549. Its weight is 18 tons.
Here you can also see the stylized letter R - the memory of Emperor Rudolph the First of Habsburg, the ancestor of the entire Habsburg dynasty. (We remember that until 1918 the Czech Republic was part of Austria-Hungary).
And very interesting watches with dials with one hand. The upper clock shows HOURS. And the lower clock shows minutes and quarter minutes.

And here is the famous Golden Gate (Porta Aurea). Future kings passed through these gates on their way to the Cathedral for their coronation.

The incomparable glass mosaic was made by Venetian masters in the 14th century. Commissioned by Charles IV. The picture of the Last Judgment is depicted. On the central mosaic, below, you can see the penitent figures of Charles the Fourth and his wife. Surely the Last Judgment has passed them by.

No less interesting are the bars in front of the golden gate. They depict all the signs of the zodiac. Interesting "solution". This is the first time I’ve seen astrological symbolism on a religious building. It seems that the church does not recognize astrology?

I found my sign. You can make a userpic for yourself... What are these people doing? Looks like he's planting potatoes.

And another very interesting image, thought-provoking.
In the niche of the Golden Gate, I looked at this mosaic Crucifixion. St. Vitus Cathedral is a Catholic church. And the Crucifixion is depicted according to Orthodox canons. After all, there is still a dispute about how many nails were used to nail the Savior - three or four. There is a clear indication of four nails; such an image is always found in Orthodox churches. Although there is another similar image in the Cathedral of Vitus.

Let's go a little further. We are standing in front of the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. She is inside the Cathedral. You and I have already met this Saint when we were in Cesky Krumlov. Let me remind you that John of Nepomuk - Saint John of Nepomuk - is very revered here - he is the heavenly patron of Prague and the entire Czech Republic. And although this name is known throughout Europe, it was here in 1393 that the confessor of King Wenceslas IV tragically lost his life. And this is not a legend.

Why did the confessor displease the Czech king so much? In 1393, three clergymen who disagreed with the superiority of secular power over ecclesiastical power were thrown into Prague prison. Soon the two priests were released, and John of Nepomuk was subjected to terrible torture. After which he was thrown into the Vltava in a bag. The body was found, but the king did not allow it to be retrieved. But when wonderful lights lit up above him, the residents of Prague could not stand it. Realizing that it was a saint, they removed the martyrs and buried them.
When a worthy tomb was made in the Cathedral of St. Vitus, St. John of Nepomuk was placed there.
It is believed that John of Nepomuk did not reveal the secret of confession. And this is precisely what King Wenceslas sought from him. He really wanted to know what his wife repented of before God.
The attributes of St. John of Nepomuk are a cross with a crucifix, a halo of stars around his head and a palm branch. We see all this in this wonderful sculpture.

Since we are standing on the square in front of the Cathedral, let's look at the obelisk. It is interesting for its unfinished construction. The height of the obelisk is 17 meters, installed in memory of the victims of the First World War. Made from a monolithic granite block. At the foot there should have been the grave of the unknown soldier. But to this day the obelisk has not been completed.

The house with pink accents is very interesting. This is the former residence of the Prague bishops, built in the 18th century.

And we also look at the sculpture depicting St. George. It was created in 1373. I won't mislead you - this is just a copy. It is interesting because no one knows what St. George's horse used to look like. This horse was destroyed during one of the tournaments in 1562. The original without the horse was preserved, but for the copy the architect came up with a new horse.

Let's take another look at the wonderful St. Vitus Cathedral.

And now for those who watched my “memoirs” to the end - a surprise.
I suggest you watch this video and relax a little. Because ahead of us lies a tour of the gloomy Gothic pseudo-Gothic Cathedral - the tomb of Saints, kings and persons close to them.
There won't be any fun anymore .... But interesting and beautiful. I promise .