St. Vitus Cathedral

The spiritual heart of the Czech lands, begun under Charles IV and finished almost six centuries later.

Work started in 1344 under the French architect Matthias of Arras; after his death, the young Peter Parler took over and created the soaring Gothic choir with its net vaults. Wars and money stopped construction for centuries, and the nave and western façade with its twin spires were completed only in 1929, which is why the cathedral looks so unified from outside.

Inside are the jewel-walled Chapel of St. Wenceslas, the silver tomb of St. John of Nepomuk, the royal mausoleum and a stained-glass window designed by Alfons Mucha. Above the Wenceslas Chapel, behind a door with seven locks, is the chamber where the Bohemian crown jewels are kept; they are shown to the public only on rare occasions.

The entrance area is free, and you can see the nave from behind a barrier. The full interior is part of the Prague Castle basic circuit — see Prague Castle tickets. The Great South Tower can be climbed separately. Sunday mornings are reserved for services.