What to see in St. Vitus Cathedral, one of the major symbols of Prague, which houses one of the most important relics of Christianity in the world, namely the head of the evangelist Saint Luke.
Tourist information
Completed only in 1929, this cult building has its primordial origins in the year 926, when San Wenceslaus ordered the construction of the San Vito rotunda.
A century later a Romanesque basilica was built on which a Gothic cathedral was built starting from the first half of the fourteenth century.
The project was entrusted to a French architect, M d'Arras, invited to the court of King Charles IV. Lqa eastern part is inspired by the early French Gothic, with clear references to the cathedrals of Toulouse and Narbonne.
The church choir stands out for its imposing dimensions, 47 meters long by 39 meters high.
After the death of Arras, the direction of the work passed to Petr Parler, who had the merit of embellishing the Cathedral, conforming its features to those corresponding to the German Gothic.
It was the sons of Parler who continued and finished the work of the choir, subsequently starting the construction of the high bell tower that dominates the cathedral from a height of 99 meters.
What see
The bell tower of the cathedral of San Vito is also famous for hosting the bell of San Sigismondo, the largest in Bohemia.
In 1872, J. Mocker began completing the immense building, faithfully following Petr Parler's project. The portal was also started in the same period and was completed by K. Hilbert in 1929.
The consecration of the cathedral also took place in the same year, which was completed 1000 years after the death of St. Wenceslas.
The precious facade, enclosed between two equal towers, is a masterpiece of neo-Gothic architecture, characterized by precious decorations, especially those included in the central rose window and in the portals.
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The interior amazes for its breathtaking dimensions, marked by three naves divided by mighty pillars supporting arches. To admire magnificent vaults, polychrome windows, carved busts depicting the designers of the cathedral, chapels and paintings.
