St. Vitus Cathedral

Welcome to the absolute pinnacle of Czech architecture and the spiritual heart of the nation. Standing before the magnificent Saint Vitus Cathedral, you are looking at a structure that defies time itself. …

We begin our exploration at the grand Western Facade, the primary entrance facing the courtyard of the Prague Castle complex. Although this soaring limestone frontage looks as though it was carved in the Middle Ages, you might be…

Stepping inside the nave of Saint Vitus Cathedral is an intensely physical experience. The sheer volume of the space, the soaring ribbed vaults that draw the eye upward, and the cool, echoing acoustic all command immediate…

We now approach the southern transept of the cathedral, home to the resplendent Golden Gate. Before the western expansion of the twentieth century, this magnificent triple-arched portal served as the primary entrance to the…

As we move deeper into the original medieval core of the cathedral, direct your attention to the right side of the high altar. Suspended above the floor is a masterwork of late Gothic architecture known as the Royal Oratory. …

We have now reached the absolute epicenter of the cathedral's spiritual power. This is the Chapel of Saint Vatslav, built directly over the original tenth-century grave of the murdered Duke and patron saint of Bohemia. …

As we walk around the ambulatory behind the high altar, your eyes will instantly be drawn to an enormous, gleaming structure of solid silver. This is the monumental tomb of Saint John of Nepomuk. …

As we conclude our journey through the awe-inspiring Saint Vitus Cathedral, take a moment to stand near the crossing and simply absorb the magnitude of the space around you. We have walked through nearly a thousand years of…