Description of the attraction
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. The construction was completed only in the second half of the 19th century - the beginning of the 20th century. The western neo-Gothic façade is characterized by two narrow towers enclosing a high façade 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 is the 14th century Gothic stone tombstone of St. Wenceslas by Camille Gilbert, decorated with gilded moldings and precious stones.
The crown jewels of the Czech rulers are kept in the Coronation Chamber, which must be opened by seven key keepers. 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 in 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, over which there are busts of members of the family of Emperor Charles IV.
