The most important and largest church of the Czech Republic, St Vitus Cathedral, is one of the most popular places of the city with its architectural structure, history and all its splendor.. Located within the boundaries of Prague Castle, this church is one of the most crowded tourist traffic structures in the city.
It may bother you that too many precautions have been taken to protect the cathedral.. Both the fact that your tour in the cathedral is short and that a certain number of tourists are allowed in can cause you to wait in long queues.. Also, do not forget that you can see a very small part of the cathedral.
History of St Vitus Cathedral
The church was built in 929 and dedicated to Svetovid (who is believed to be the god of fertility). Czech Svantovit) dedicated. The dome in Romanesque style was built by Duke Wenceslas I and dedicated to St. Vitus.. When the Prague Diocese was founded (1060), two church towers were built as a trio and turned into a basilica.
The construction of the present day cathedral started in 1344.. After becoming Archbishop of Prague in these years, King John decided to build a larger church worthy of the new status.. Two years after the king died, his successor, King Charles IV, supported King John’s decision and commissioned French master Maison Mathieu d’Arras for that ambitious project.
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D’arras 1352 The church was not yet complete when he died.. The church is then handed over to Peter Parler, a young sculptor and woodcarver brought from southern Germany (Swabia).. Following Mathieu’s designs, Parler also added his own artistic projects to the church.. Unlike other gothic masterpieces, its appearance was made in a style called Sondergothic (Special Gothic).
When Parler died, the magnificent Wenceslas Chapel and Golden Portal were completed.. Later, their son took over the project and they completed the clock tower in 1399.. After these days, the construction started to slow down and it almost came to a standstill in the epidemic in 1419.
The Tower is on the verge of extinction in the fire in 1541.. But soon the tower was rebuilt and saved from destruction.. In 1770, half-Italian half-Austrian architect Nikolaus Pacassi added a baroque dome to the top of the tower.
It is said that the cathedral waited until 1844 with its unfinished construction.. Construction of the west façade began in 1873 under the leadership of Josef Mocker, and most of Peter Parler’s plans were used during this construction process.
Golden Portal
Before the west side of the cathedral was completed. The Golden Portal (Ziata Brana) was known as the main entrance of the Cathedral.. The colorful mosaic on the portal is said to have been created by Venetian craftsmen in the 14th century.
Clock Tower
St Vitus Cathedral’ It is possible to see the clock tower, the tallest tower in Prague, from almost anywhere in Prague.. The tower is 96.5 meters long. Although most of the tower was built in the gothic style, the upper part was made in the Renaissance style and the top was made in the baroque style.
You can reach the tower, which is open to visitors, by climbing 297 steps.. When you reach the top, you are greeted by the largest church bell in Eastern Europe and a magnificent view of Prague.. Of course, don’t forget that you can now go to this tower with paid tours.
