Prague Churches

St. Vitus Cathedral

St. Vitus Cathedral is the by far most known sacred building in Prague. Dominating the Castle and the city skyline, it can be considered the Prague trademark. It is the masterpiece of the High Gothic style, featuring large rosette above the main entrance, array of outside supporting pillars and windows created of colored glass mosaic. If you go inside, concentrate on the area behind altar - this is the oldest and most interesting part of the cathedral, initiated by King Charles IV in the 14th Century. As the Czech Kingdom had not been always prosperous during the last 1000 years, the cathedral was completely finished only in the late 19th century by adding the second front tower. Nevertheless St. Vitus is definitely the best place to admire the Czech Gothics style of Petr Parler and his followers. Its dominant position is given also by the fact that it is not integrated into the Castle walls or buildings. The only other comparable sacred building in Czechia is the St. Barbora Cathedral in Kutna Hora.

St. Nicolaus Church

St. Nicolaus Church is dominating the Lesser Town Square. It is definitely the most famous and also the largest Baroque church in Prague, known especially for its organs and concerts of medieval music. It belongs among the most valuable Baroque sacred buildings located north of Alps. You can admire its monumental inner space and decorations along with the highest ceiling in Prague. The outer facade and profile is probably less intriguing as the Church is partially integrated with the former Jesuit House, used today by the Charles University.

Church of Lady Maria Snow

Relatively unknown and overlooked by tourists, this church and monastery with adjacent  Franciscaner Gardens next to Venceslav Square was originated by King Charles IV in 1347 as the basis of the largest crown cathedral of Czech Kingdom. The section finished is just the presbyterium while the whole cathedral was projected to be 100 meters long and to have 40 meters high ceiling. However this plan was abandoned by the following kings. Inside you can admire one of the highest altar structures in Prague. The monastery garden is open to public and serves as a hideout in the crowded city center and passage from Venceslav to Jungmann Square.

Rotonda of Saint Cross

located on the corner of Konviktska and Karoliny Svetle Street is the oldest of the three preserved original Roman sacred buildings dated back to the 11th century. The other two can be found on Vysehrad and in Predni Kopanina. This rotonda is the center of the holy urban cross originated by King Charles IV with St. Vitus Cathedral, St. Longinus rotonda, St. Kliment Church and former St Filip & Jacob Church on its arms.

Old Synagoga

is the oldest preserved Jewish temple in Central Europe. You can find it at the intersection of Parizska and Maislova Street in the former Jewish Town, just about 200 meters from the Old Town Square. There is a crowd of tourists around it all the time so you will not miss it. Old Synagoga is one of the few buildings in Prague where you can see the original street level before the city elevated the streets and pavements one floor up to protect from floods. Prague Jewish Cemetery is around the corner, making the second remnant of the once flourishing local Jewish community (which disappeared after Second World War).

St. Ludmila Church

dominates the Peace Square in Vinohrady. Though built only at the end of the 19th century in the NeoGothical style, it has the spirit of magic geometry and sacred place as other medieval cathedrals in the city.

Basilica of St. George

counts to the oldest preserved sections of Prague Castle. Most of the Czech knights, kings and royal family members are buried in its tomb. It is one of the few original Roman style churches in Czechia which was not replaced during Gothic times.

Monastery Church of Lady Maria Theatine

in Nerudova Street of Lesser Town is one of the few churches in Prague built on the platform of symmetric cross (most of churches in Prague and Czechia are based on platform of asymmetric cross or plain rectangle). It was originated at the edge of the 17th Century by the Theatine Order as part of a monastery in the Classic Baroque style. Today it belongs to the Order of Redemptorists.