The cathedrals, churches, and synagogues in the Czech Republic tell stories of religious strife and strength through their stories, treasures, and architecture.
St. Vitus Cathedral (Prague Castle)
Located within Prague Castle and containing the tombs of many Bohemian kings and Holy Roman Emperors, the cathedral is under the ownership of the Czech government as part of the Prague Castle complex.
The current cathedral is the third of a series of religious buildings at the site, all dedicated to St. Vitus. The first church was an early Romanesque rotunda founded by Wenceslaus i, Duke of Bohemia, in 930.
The present-day Gothic Cathedral was founded on 21 November 1344. By the time of St Wenceslas jubilee in 1929, the St Vitus cathedral was finally finished, nearly 600 years after it was begun.
The current cathedral is the third of a series of religious buildings at the site, all dedicated to St. Vitus. The first church was an early Romanesque rotunda founded by Wenceslaus i, Duke of Bohemia, in 930.
The present-day Gothic Cathedral was founded on 21 November 1344. By the time of St Wenceslas jubilee in 1929, the St Vitus cathedral was finally finished, nearly 600 years after it was begun.
The Old-New Synagogue, (Old Town-Prague)
Completed in 1270 in gothic style, it was one of Prague's first gothic buildings and it is Europe's oldest active synagogue.
The synagogue was originally called the New or Great Synagogue and later, when newer synagogues were built in the 16th century, it became known as the Old-New Synagogue.
It is said that the body of Golem (created by Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel) lies in the attic where the genizah of Prague's community is kept.
The synagogue was originally called the New or Great Synagogue and later, when newer synagogues were built in the 16th century, it became known as the Old-New Synagogue.
It is said that the body of Golem (created by Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel) lies in the attic where the genizah of Prague's community is kept.
Kladruby Cloister
Established by Prince Vladislav I in 1115, the Benedictine monastery at Kladruby was set into a sparsely settled landscape inhabited by Slavonic population. It was provided with vast estates; in particular, in a triangle formed by the Mže River, the Úhlavka River and the frontier forest.
The first Czech monks were soon joined by missionaries from the nearby town of Zwiefalten.
The Thirty Year’s War resulted in conquering and plundering the monastery and the nearby township by both the warring parties. Nevertheless, the monastery managed to take advantage of the Catholic Church’s post-war boom to retrieve the worst losses in a short time.
St. Bartholomew Cathedral (Plzen)
The construction of the Gothic style building, located on the main square, started in 1295 and was finished by the beginning of 16th century.
The building is 58m long, 30m wide and the spires are 25m high. The tall spire is 102.6 m high and is the highest in the Czech Republic, and also the third tallest building in the Czech Republic.
The building is 58m long, 30m wide and the spires are 25m high. The tall spire is 102.6 m high and is the highest in the Czech Republic, and also the third tallest building in the Czech Republic.