St Vitus Cathedral

Gothic cathedral inside Prague Castle containing Bohemian royal tombs

Address III. nádvoří 48/2, Praha 1 (Hradčany)

St Vitus Cathedral rises from the Third Courtyard of Prague Castle, its Gothic spires visible from almost everywhere in the city. Entry to the nave is included in the cheapest castle ticket, making it accessible without the full circuit. The interior is overwhelming in scale and in the richness of its stained glass — notably the Art Nouveau windows designed by Alphonse Mucha in the north nave aisle.

The royal crypt below the choir holds the remains of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, and other Bohemian monarchs. The tomb of St Wenceslas (the good king of the carol) is in the Wenceslas Chapel, surrounded by a cycle of 14th-century murals depicting his life and death. Visiting early morning or near closing avoids the worst of the crowds that pack the nave through the day.

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A story
The foundation stone was laid in 1344, but the western towers were not completed until 1929 — a span of nearly 600 years. The last stones were set during the first Czechoslovak Republic, and the building was consecrated in the presence of President Tomáš Masaryk.