St. Vitus Cathedral: A Forest of Gothic Spires and Stained Glass

Why is it significant?

Step into the third courtyard and tilt your head straight up toward the dizzying twin western spires of Saint Vitus Cathedral.

Key Facts

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Step into the third courtyard and tilt your head straight up toward the dizzying twin western spires of Saint Vitus Cathedral. Fierce gargoyles in the shape of dragons, winged demons, and fantastical beasts jut outward from the soaring flying buttresses, designed to channel rainwater away from the delicate ribbed vaults while symbolically warding evil spirits from this sacred royal sanctuary.

This breathtaking masterpiece took nearly six centuries to complete. Founded in thirteen forty-four by Emperor Charles the Fourth under master architect Peter Parler, construction halted during wars and fires, only reaching final completion in nineteen twenty-nine. Inside, sunlight filters through the brilliant Art Nouveau stained-glass window designed by Czech master Alfons Mucha, casting jewel-toned pools of ruby and sapphire light across the marble floor.

Deep within lies the Saint Wenceslas Chapel, its walls encrusted with more than thirteen hundred polished semi-precious Bohemian stones and gilded frescoes. A hidden door locked with seven distinct keys held by seven state officials conceals the chamber containing the ancient Crown Jewels of Bohemia.

Walk around the southern facade to admire the monumental Golden Gate, adorned with a fourteenth-century Venetian glass mosaic depicting the Last Judgment.