Snapshot: Up close with the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague

It may not be a soaring skyscraper but it’s still a giant, dominating the Prague skyline.  Peeking out from the hill top behind a slope of buildings  and visible from most parts of the city, the St. Vitus Cathedral within the Prague Castle grounds ranks among one of the grandest cathedrals you’d ever see.

When most people mention the Prague Castle, they are mostly referring to the gothic masterpiece that is the St. Vitus Cathedral. While the castle compound consists of many buildings, it’s the cathedral that stands out the most. With its roots dating as far back as 930, the Roman Catholic church was once dedicated only to Saint Vitus and is currently the seat of the Archbishop of Prague.  It’s full name is now The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adalbert.

I was a tad overwhelmed upon seeing the cathedral for the first time. There was just so much details on its façade I didn’t know where to look. The best way to admire the cathedral is to start from one side and gradually work your way to the other.

The cathedral is the most important church in the Czech Republic and once saw the coronation of its kings and queens. Today, it holds some of the country’s most important treasures, like the Saint Wenceslas Crown, the Coronation Cross with relics of the passion of Christ, the baroque silver tomb of St John of Nepomuck and more.

The current structure is the result of over numerous architectural developments spanning over a thousand years. Since its very first church structure back in the 900s, the majority of today’s cathedral had its foundations laid in 1344 by the Bohemian King and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. He was influenced by the monumental cathedrals he’d seen in France during his travels. However, construction was a never-ending process , completed only in 1929.

While the cathedral astounds with the intricate Gothic details on its façade, its true splendor lies in its interior. When you enter, you’ll be greeted with a kaleidoscope of colors, with rays of varying hues  shooting through the stained glass creations lining both sides of the cathedral. Its high ceilings allows for bountiful sunlight to pass through, casting a soft glow all over  the church.

Every window in the cathedral bears a different design, each depicting a unique story. If you can spare time, go through each window to admire its artistry.

An important part of the St. Vitus Cathedral is the St. Wenceslas Chapel. While its lower  walls are adorned with over 1300 semi-precious stones and paintings portraying the Passion of the Christ, the upper section contains paintings of the life of  St Wenceslas. In the middle section lies a Gothic statue of St. Wenceslas himself. Unfortunately, the chapel isn’t open to public, you can only sneak a peek from the doorways. It’s also  here that the Bohemian coronation jewels were kept under lock and key ( seven layers of locks to be exact!). In the chancel, just front of the alter is the royal mausoleum, where you can find the royal tombs, with Czech kings and queens, saints, princes and archbishops were being interred.

Here’s what else you can check out in the St. Vitus Cathedral:

 

 

Tip: End your adventure in the St. Vitus Cathedral with a trip to the top of the south tower, where you get a panoramic view of the city of Prague.

Do note that while it’s free to enter the first part of the cathedral, there’s a charge if you wish to explore it in its entirety.

There are plenty of sights to see in the charming city of Prague, check out what else you can do.