St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle is one of the top 10 sights in Prague.
In this complete guide to St. Vitus Cathedral, you'll learn all about its sights, history, and helpful information about directions, tickets, and tours.
What Can I Do at St. Vitus Cathedral?
The monumental St. Vitus Cathedral towers majestically in the middle of Prague Castle. The sacred building is not only the cathedral of the Archbishopric of Prague, but also the largest church in the Czech Republic.
The impressive Gothic architecture of the cathedral is only one of its special features. The following highlights await you in the magnificent decorated interior.
1. Emperors and Royal Tombs
St. Vitus Cathedral not only hosted the crownings of Bohemian kings and queens, it also serves as the final resting place for many kings and emperors and their family members.
Visitors will find the royal mausoleum of the Habsburgs in front of the main altar. The tomb of the Czech kings lies below.
Not only the tombs of Czech kings and emperors are buried here, but also Roman-German emperors such as Emperor Maximilian II and Emperor Rudolf II.
Another highlight of the church is the impressive high tomb of St. John of Nepomuk, a Czech priest.
2. Wenceslas Chapel
A special attraction is Wenceslas Chapel, lined with semi-precious stones and gilded stucco. It is one of the most important works of the cathedral master builder, Peter Parler.
Wenceslas Chapel is the most important chapel in St. Vitus Cathedral and impresses with its unique architectural design and grandiose decoration. Valuable frescoes about the Passion of Christ, as well as scenes from the life of St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of the country, decorate the chapel. The tomb of St. Wenceslas is also located here.
Visitors can find Wenceslas Chapel in the southern aisle of the cathedral.
3. View From the Tower
Another highlight is the sensational view from the 99-meter high main tower of the monumental church.
If you climb the 287 stairs of the tower, you will be rewarded with a magnificent panorama of Prague and its surroundings.
During the climb, you can get a close-up view of the tower's bells. The largest of the seven bells is called Sigmund and weighs about 15 tons. It is also the largest bell in the country. Six bell ringers are needed to ring Sigmund. The bell from 1549 is also distinguished by a special relief decoration.
4. Bohemian Crown Jewels
There are also historical treasures in St. Vitus Cathedral.
The Crown Jewel Chamber is closed by seven locks. It contains not only the crown jewels of the Czech kings, but also the coronation insignia with the crown of Wenceslas - the coronation crown of the Kingdom of Bohemia - the orb, and scepter.
The seven keys are kept by seven high personalities in the country. Before the chamber can be opened, the consent of all seven people is required.
The cathedral also houses the Prague Cathedral Treasury, one of the largest and most valuable cathedral treasures in Europe. This consists of over 400 pieces, including the sword of St. Wenceslas and the head of St. Vitus. The treasure is located in the Holy Cross Chapel.
Admissions, Tickets, and Guided Tours
- Admission: Only the front, neo-Gothic section of the sacred building can be visited free of charge. Please note: At the entrance to the Prague Castle area, there is a security check that all visitors must undergo.
- Tickets: Admission to St. Vitus Cathedral is included in the Prague Castle admission ticket. The ticket is valid for two consecutive days. Each attraction, can be visited only once. Buy a skip the line ticket for Prague Castle here in advance and avoid standing in line!
- Tower Ticket: The ticket for the ascent of the tower is not included in the regular entrance ticket. Therefore, it must be purchased separately.
- Tours: Several tour operators offer guided tours of Prague Castle. Book here the most popular guided tour of Prague Castle, including entrance ticket.
- Tip: Since there is always a big crowd in front of the ticket counters on site, it is recommended to buy an online ticket in advance.
How Do I Get to St. Vitus Cathedral?
St. Vitus Cathedral is located in Prague Castle, which stands on a hill in the center of Prague.
The easiest way to reach the castle is by public transport, taking streetcar line 22. You can take it from the Old Town to the Pražský hrad (Prague Castle) stop.
History
The completion of the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral took almost 600 years. Construction of the Gothic cathedral began in 1344, when Charles IV commissioned it after Prague was made an archbishopric.
Originally, there was a rotation on the site, which was built by St. Wenceslas in 925.
The French cathedral architect, Matthias of Arras, was commissioned to build the church. He was followed by Peter Parler, his sons Wenceslas and John Parler, and many other builders. Several wars led to frequent interruptions. It was not until 1929 that the construction was completed under the direction of Kamil Hilbert and Joseph Kranner.
Since then, the three-nave cathedral with a length of 124 meters and a width of 60 meters is the largest church in the country. Today, St. Vitus Cathedral, with its breathtaking facade and magnificent interior, is one of the most popular sights in Prague.
Contact
- Address: III. nádvoří 48/2, Pražský hrad, 119 01 Praha 1 - Hradčany
- Website: https://www.katedralasvatehovita.cz/en
- Public Transport: Bus line 22 to Pražský hrad.
- Opening hours: For the opening hours of St. Vitus Cathedral, visit the St. Vitus Cathedral website.