Dominating the skyline of Prague, is its most emblematic and representative building, the Cathedral of St. Vitus. This Catholic temple, the largest in the city, has been standing since the 14th century, and today it continues to be one of the most distinctive works of Gothic architecture.
The great Cathedral of St. Vitus is part of the imposing Prague Castle, and because of its location, it was the main religious headquarters of the former Kingdom of Bohemia. In the cathedral, whose construction began in 1344, the Bohemian kings who ruled the country were proclaimed.
Since then, the Cathedral of St. Vitus became a symbol of national identity for Czech citizens. Likewise, the architectural value of this building is incalculable, since there are few European churches designed with the same architectural characteristics as the Great Cathedral of Prague.
The temple withstood a great number of wars, revolutions, changes of government, religious conflicts and civil unrest. Over the years, it underwent various renovations and extensions, made with the intention of preserving the integrity of the structure. Finally, it was completely finished in the middle of the 20th century.
Due to its great historical importance, this cathedral also houses the tombs of many Bohemian monarchs and members of the nobility, as well as archbishops of Czech origin.
The design and supervision of the Cathedral of San Vito was in the hands of the French architect, Matías de Arrás, who was in charge of creating the Gothic details that characterize the construction.
However, Arras died before the cathedral was fully finished, because of this, the final touches of the construction had to be devised by different master builders, who added their own ideas to the building.
Today, the Cathedral of St. Vitus has a large golden entrance door, two facades, three naves, a main altar, a royal oratory and a royal pantheon. Like many other great European cathedrals, San Vito has huge and beautiful stained glass windows, numerous chapels and decorations of a Catholic type.
Additionally, this cathedral also has a library and several religious relics, which are part of the Cathedral Treasury. Also, inside the temple are the Crown Jewels, one of the most important royal collections in Central Europe, and the most valuable in the Czech Republic.
In order to enjoy the best views of the city, you have to climb one of the tall towers of the cathedral. From there you can take incredible pictures, where you will see almost all of Prague.
If you want to live this unique experience, you should know that the cathedral is open during all months of the year, although with different hours, depending on the season. The temple also offers private tours, with which you can learn from the highest tower to the most fantastic secrets of the Cathedral Treasury.
Keep in mind that visiting St. Vitus Cathedral is entering the Prague Castle, so you will be able to see other tourist attractions of great interest, such as the Golden Alley and the Royal Palace.
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