Chrám svatého Víta (Saint Vitus Cathedral)

The royal Premyslid family resided, after the unification of the czech territories, in Prague Castle. They also built religious buildings within its grounds. Saint Vitus Cathedral forms, together with the Castle and Charles Bridge, a unique sight.

The foundation of the cathedral was a church in the shape of a rotunda, founded by Prince Václav (Wenceslas) in the year 926. The importance of the church grew when the relics of Wenceslas were moved into it and also with its promotion to bishopric. The prince, who was killed by his own brother, became a national saint and the church became too small for all the pilgrims who came to pay homage to him. Therefore a Romanesque basilica with three naves was built on the place of the rotunda.

A fundamental period in the history of Saint Vitus Cathedral began halfway the 14th century. Charles IV was still Count of Moravia at that time. During his visit in Avignon he urged the Pope to promote the Prague bishopric to an archbishopric. Clement IV used to be his teacher at the french court and complied with the wishes of his pupil and friend. Naturally the cathedral had to conform to this promotion too. Already during his stay in Avignon Charles arranged for the renowned architect, Matthias of Arras to begin the construction. This Flemish architect used elements of the classic style of cathedrals in Northern France which was very wide spread. He also used this conception in Bohemia.

A complete description of the architecture and the decoration of the cathedral can not be composed in brief. Just a few of the most important elements will be mentioned here.

The chapel of Saint Wenceslas (Svatý Václav) was placed in the cathedral as a separate architectural formation on the site of the tomb in the old basilica. Its artistic value belongs to the most important monuments of Czech expressive arts. Unlike all other chapels it was built with closed walls. The walls are covered with big, gleaming gems. Between the stones of carnelian, amethyst, chalcedony and chrysoprase are paintings.

The sculpture of Saint Wenceslas is the most beautiful in the chapel. It belongs to the greatest czech gothic works of art. The main feature is the tomb altar of the Saint. Saint Wenceslas chapel is considered to be the most sacred place in the Czech country. The lofty cathedral was used for holy services as well as a burial ground of statesmen and church officials. It is richly decorated with sculptures, especially on the tombstones.

That of Saint John of Nepomuk is worthy of special attention. The sculpted part of the coffin with the kneeling figure of the saint is made in silver and was the first sculptural work in rococo style in the Czech country.

Also famous are the decorative sculpture of Saint Vitus' triforium. Twenty one busts of members of Charles IV family, and also Prague archbishops and builders of the cathedral, were placed in its lower gallery. Ten sculptures presenting Christ, the Virgin Mary and Czech patrons are in the higher gallery. The elaborate decorations are too numerous to mention.

On the outside are the peculiarly expressive gargoyles, representing the struggle between good and evil. Also the Golden Gate is admired by all visitors. Its façade is covered with a mosaic of coloured stones and behind it is constructed with gilded glass bricks. It presents the final judgement and it is unique of its kind.

The Golden Gate gives entrance to a hall. Above the vault of this hall is a room where the czech crown jewels are kept. Charles IV had the old crown of the Premyslid dynasty repaired in the year 1346. The golden diadem is covered with 91 precious stones and 20 rare pearls. The sceptre and the apple are masterpieces too. Charles IV dedicated the crown to Saint Wenceslas and the kings were only to wear it at celebrations and only in Prague. It is said that whoever places the crown on his head without authority will die.

When Czechoslovakia was occuppied by the Germans during the second World War, the imperial protector Heydrich laughed at this "superstition". He tried on the Saint Vitus crown and even put it on the head of his son. Heydrich died after the assassination attempt by members of the Czech landing forces from Great Britain. The boy was later run over by a car in a notorious accident.

The cathedral treasure contains an immense amount of valuable objects. Because the treasure house of the cathedral was not big enough for all of them, they were moved to the Holy Cross Chapel in the second castle yard. Saint Vitus Cathedral is for the Czech people both a symbol and an ensemble of christian tradition, cultural, national and political values.

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