Despite being a rather non-religious city, Prague boasts an impressive number of places of worship – churches, cathedrals and synagogues. The Protestant buildings are rare, but there are numerous Catholic churches. Although the Jewish community diminished during the last decades, there are several outstanding edifices belonging to the oldest monotheist religion.
Churches in Prague
The Church of Our Lady of Tyn is a Gothic building with a Baroque interior, whose construction lasted almost two centuries. It was started some time during the second half of the fourteenth century and ended in the sixteenth century. Getting closer to the building, you will be impressed by its arrows that culminate at a height of 80 meters. You will also remain speechless admiring the two magnificent towers that overlook Prague’s Old Town Square. Its seemingly similar steeples, symbols of the feminine and male halves of the world, rise towards the sky and are visible from any point of the city. An outstanding copy of a 14th century tympanum depicting the Crucifixion decorates the Northern wall of the church.
The interior of the church was transformed into a Baroque style some time during the late seventeenth century. The stone fifteenth century pulpit is facing a canopy dating from the same era that retains a splendid altarpiece. In the left aisle, we discover carved tombstones housing the bodies of knights. The altar paintings signed Karel Skréta are among the finest works of the church.
But the main attraction is located on the right side of the altar. This is the tomb of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brache, known for his work at the court of Rudolph II in the late sixteenth century as well as for his incredible stories. Indeed, the astronomer had lost part of his nose in a duel and wore a nasal prosthesis made of gold and silver. Above all, his death was one of the funniest episodes of his entire life. While in the presence of the King, he really wanted to urinate. Not wanting to interrupt the monarch, he restrained himself so hard that his bladder exploded!
Located inside the Prague Palace complex, St. Vitus Cathedral is an imposing building in the French Gothic style. It is the largest church in the country, incorporating many chapels, frescoes and tombs. The rich and beautifully decorated chapel contains the tomb of St. Wenceslas, which became a well known place of pilgrimage. In the Coronation Chamber, the Crown Jewels can be admired and in the cathedral’s crypt most of Bohemia’s kings and queens rest in peace. The Southern entrance of the cathedral “the Golden Gate” is decorated with a scene depicting the Last Judgement and dating from 1370. The 287 stairs to the top of the cathedral tower can be climbed for a wonderful panorama of the city.
Saints Peter and Paul Church, built during the reign of Vratislav II, was rebuilt several times over the centuries, reaching its final neo-Gothic form in 1880, under the direction of Josef Mocker. The twin towers were added in 1903. The interior is decorated with frescoes realized in Art Nouveau style, painted by various Czech artists in the 20s.
St. George Basilica, whose facade of red brick in early Baroque style dominated the square, was built in the 10th century by Vratislav I. The contemporary construction is the result of the restoration work held from 1887 to 1908. The Romanesque austerity of the nave is attenuated by baroque staircase leading to the apse, where 12th century frescoes can still be admired. In front of the stairs there are the graves of princes Boleslav II (who died in 997), respectively, Vratislav I (who died in 921), the latter being the founder of the church. In the crypt of the church and in the nave kings of the Premysl dynasty were buried. The baroque style chapel near the entrance is dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk.
One of Prague’s most important religious places, the Bethlehem Chapel is situated in the square with the same name. In 1391, the Prague reformers won the right to build a church where services will be held in Czech language instead of Latin. The largest chapel in Bohemia (over 3.000 people were praying here), the building also has some architectural distinctive features as the emphasis is on the pulpit and not on the altar. Jan Hus held religious masses here between 1402 and 1412, which made it easier for the Krolinum religious reform, where he was rector, to penetrate the Czech capital. In the 18th century, the chapel was demolished. During the second decade of the 20th century, remains were discovered, and between 1948 and 1954 the entire building was built again from scratch, based on old drawings. Today, it is a national cultural monument.
You can still see the original parts on the eastern side of the church: pulpit door, several windows, and the door altar. These areas, including rooms used by Huss and others are also original and they are used today for the exhibition. The paintings on the walls are modern and they are based on the Hussite preaching. The well inside the chapel is built beforehand. Each year, the night of July 5, the eve of the day Ian Hus was burned a memorial service is held and speeches are delivered in the form of bell sounds.
The oldest Benedictine monastery in the whole country (built in 993), Brevnov Monastery is an example of Baroque architecture. St. Jilji Church with its Gothic exterior and Baroque interior decorations, although erected at a later period (13th century) is another historical monument of religious origin.
Synagogues in Prague
The beautiful Pinkas Synagogue, built in 1535 used as a place of worship until 1941. After the Second World War, it was transformed into a moving memorial which include the names, dates of birth and of disappearance of the 77.297 Czech victims who died under the Nazi regime. You can also find here a collection of paintings and drawings of the children imprisoned in the Terezín concentration camp, during the Second World War.
Prague is the home of the oldest still functioning synagogue in Europe – 13th century Gothic building, called the Old New Synagogue. Old legends claim that its foundation stones were brought by angels from the destroyed Temple of Jerusalem.
Another impressive example of cult site, belonging to the oldest monoteist religion is the Spanish Synagogue, built in 1868 on the site of the oldest Jewish house of prayer in Prague. Originally designed into a Moorish style, the Spanish Synagogue uses different architectural motifs such as stained glass windows, metallic structures and Moorish patterns. Reopened on the day of its 130th anniversary, it is nowadays a popular venue for classical music concerts.
