The church was built at the end of the 12th century. in the settlement of Uyezd. During the construction of the Old Town fortifications in the mid-13th century. The county was divided into two parts. Most of remained outside the fortress walls, finding itself on the territory of the future New Town, and the smaller part with the church entered the bowels of the Old Town. And because The church stood on the border, its southern wall was adjacent to the fortress wall, hence the name. Next to the church there was a city gate, called the Gate of St. Martina.
A number of Romanesque architectural details of the original single-nave Romanesque church are preserved in the main nave of the temple.
The Gothic reconstruction of the church took place during the reign of Charles IV (1350). The main nave increased its height and was covered with a vault, the wall in the southwest acquired a prismatic appearance, and the space of the church expanded with the construction of a square presbytery. The latter was covered with a ribbed vault, and such a solution (later a typical structural and decorative element of Prague Gothic shrines) turned out to be one of the first in Prague. The ribs of the vault grew from consoles decorated with masks. The place where they intersect is decorated with a rose and a star.
Subsequently, the church became a shrine of reformism and the Hussite revolution.
The church acquired its current appearance after reconstruction in the late Gothic style, which was completed in 1488, when two side naves appeared, also covered with ribbed vaults.
The construction was financed by the Goltsev family from Kvetnice. The so-called Goltseva chapel was connected by a wooden bridge to their house located next door (today's Platiz wing). To this day, on its outer wall you can see a built-in portal leading to the oratory (chapel), on outside of which traces from the bridge and fence are visible. The coats of arms that repeatedly appear in the interior of the temple also remind us of the Goltsy and their relatives, the Benes.
Church of St. Martin's in the wall burned in 1678, after which the upper part of the tower was rebuilt. The Baroque portal appeared on the north side in 1779.
Soon after this, the church is abolished, turning into a warehouse, housing and shops.
In 1904 The property, purchased by the city, is being restored under the leadership of K. Gilbert. Now the tower with the coat of arms of the Old Town is complemented by pseudo-Renaissance pediments.
After the First World War, the temple was acquired by evangelists, who carried out a general reconstruction here together with archaeological research.
Near the church, once upon a time there was a cemetery where the famous Brokoff family of sculptors were buried, as evidenced by a memorial plaque in the outer masonry of the presbytery. Several authentic tombstones are located in the interior of the church.
Thus, having passed through different eras, so to speak, the medieval work, the most valuable document of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, did not perish.
czech republic romanesque gothic architecture
Despite the fact that every city in the Czech Republic is a unique architectural monument, Prague can rightfully be called the capital of not only the country, but also the entire architectural heritage of the Czechs. It is in this city that a large number of buildings of various styles and eras are collected. Prague has absorbed all the beauty and completeness of Gothic, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance styles. And it appears to the world as a mixture, a kind of synthesis of different architectural trends.
The predominant styles in this city are Gothic and Romanesque. They are harmoniously combined with new buildings, with new structures.
Let's look at some examples of famous Prague architecture.
Roman style. Church of St. Martin in the wall.
The church was built at the end of the 12th century. in the settlement of Uyezd. During the construction of the Old Town fortifications in the mid-13th century. The county was divided into two parts. Most of them remained outside the fortress walls, ending up on the territory of the future New Town, and the smaller part with the church entered the bowels of the Old Town.
Like all Romanesque buildings, the Church of St. Martin underwent Gothic reconstruction. It was carried out during the reign of Charles IV. The main nave increased its height and was covered with a vault, the wall in the southwest acquired a prismatic appearance, and the space of the church expanded with the construction of a square presbytery. The latter was covered with a ribbed vault (later a typical structural and decorative element of Prague Gothic shrines). The place where they intersect is decorated with a rose and a star.
The church acquired its current appearance after reconstruction in the late Gothic style, which was completed in 1488, when two side naves appeared, also covered with ribbed vaults. The construction was financed by the Goltsev family from Kvetnice. The so-called Goltseva chapel was connected by a wooden bridge to their house located next door (today's Platiz wing). To this day, a built-in portal leading to the chapel can be seen on its outer wall, on the outer side of which traces of a bridge and fencing are visible.
There was once a cemetery near the church. Several authentic tombstones are located in the interior of the church.
Thus, having passed through different eras, the medieval work, the most valuable document of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, did not perish.
Gothic style. St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.
St. Vitus Cathedral is a spiritual, artistic and national-historical shrine of the Czech Republic - Czech kings are buried here, and the coronation regalia of the medieval Czech state is kept here.
Since 926, on the site of the modern grandiose temple, there was a small, round church of St. Vitus. In the 11th century it was rebuilt into a three-nave basilica.
In 1344, the French architect Mathieu from Arras was invited to Prague. He was appointed to the position of chief builder of Prague. Mathieu of Arras developed the plan for St. Vitus Cathedral, which preserved the layout traditional for Gothic cathedrals Southern France. In the same year, the ceremonial laying of the first stone of the cathedral took place. The construction of St. Vitus Cathedral lasted for centuries. East End The temple was built in the XIV-XV centuries, the western one - only in the second half of the 19th century. The cathedral was finally completed only at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The facades of St. Vitus Cathedral are decorated with abundant stone carvings. Above the portal of the southern façade is the Last Judgment mosaic, the earliest surviving Czech mosaic. With its spire raised high, the bell tower of St. Vitus Cathedral was for many years the tallest building in Prague. In the interior of St. Vitus Cathedral, everything is subordinated to the idea of \u200b\u200bstriving upward. The wall of the second tier looks like a continuous lace of window frames painted with colored stained glass. Some of the stained glass windows were made according to sketches by the famous Czech artist of the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, Alphonse Mucha.
The Chapel of St. Wenceslas is very interesting - the creation of master Peter Parler. The chapel was built over the tomb of St. Wenceslas, a Czech prince in 924-935, considered the heavenly patron of the Czech Republic. The walls of the chapel are decorated with paintings and mosaics made of semi-precious stones - agate, carnelian, amethyst, jasper. In the center of the chapel stands a statue of St. Wenceslas by Peter Parler.
Modern architecture. "Golden Angel"
One of the areas in which modern architecture managed to fit extremely organically was Smichov - a once industrial area filled with factory buildings. The undisputed dominant feature of the small area on Andel was the Golden Angel shopping and office center, designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel in 1994-2000. The Golden Angel, in the shape of an angel's wing, consists of several blocks of buildings, and the main merit of the project is that Nouvel managed to create a single space rather than a system of buildings.
The entire corner part of the glass and metal building contains an image of a Wenders angel made of cast foil, made from pieces of different sizes. Each square meter of graphics consists of 80 thousand dots, together the image makes up 150 million pieces. The fact that the shape of the building resembles an angel's wing can, however, be understood only from a bird's eye view. The plasticity of the “angel’s wing” shape is emphasized by the sayings of famous writers about the beauty and greatness of Prague inscribed on the façade in waves. Thus, modern technology meets poetry on the facade of the building.
Boring. Since there is no living thing at hand, then at least let there be a guidebook
This place is important for the history of Prague. It’s worth including it on a tour of Prague.
Saint Martin of Tours is one of the five most respected saints of France. The man was of rare soul and kindness. He lived in the 4th century. And before becoming a priest, he managed to be a military leader. The legend says that while still serving in the army, he once cut off a rather substantial piece from his cloak and gave it to a naked beggar. To whom it was given, as it turned out later, was Jesus himself... To Jesus, who appeared in this form... Who tested Martin in this way... At the end of the sovereign's service, Martin retired to the Liguzhe desert and, having become a monk, founded a monastery there. He was soon proclaimed Bishop of Tours.
More than two thousand monks gathered for his funeral in 397. Which at that time was more than respectable... During the funeral procession, despite the autumn season, flowers bloomed and birds sang. Such a wonderful man!
For my good disposition to everyone without exception, Saint Martin was nicknamed the Merciful.
As for the Church of St. Martin in Prague, this place is unique!
There was already a settlement here by 1140. About thirty years later, the settlement was called St. Martina. This name was associated with the recently built Church of St. Martin.
This church is called correctly« St. Martin's Church in the wall". The “wall” in the title is the most interesting thing! The fact is that the church, built back in the 12th century, in the middle of the 13th century turned out to be part of the city wall built around the Old Town. This wall was erected after the Old Town was founded by Wenceslas I in 1232. Near the Church of St. Martin, the city gate of the same name was located. There has been no wall or gate for a long time. However, the beveled brick corner on the side wall of the church makes it possible to imagine what once was.
The temple was rebuilt during the reign of Charles IV in 1350. The church took on its current form in 1488.
During the Hussite events, the church turned out to be politically significant. It was here in 1414, for the first time in the Czech Republic, that ordinary Catholic people began to receive communion not only with bread, but also with wine. For us today, for the most part «
unchurched »
, it is not possible to understand the enormity of this event. And in those days, the issue of communion was so serious that it partly served as a catalyst for the Hussite wars... Moderate Hussite cup makers later even hoisted their main symbol of victory, the communion cup, on the roof of the Tyn Temple...
Under the current paved streets around the rotunda of St. Martin there is a huge cemetery. The famous Brokoff family of sculptors is buried here. A large memorial plaque on this occasion can be seen on the outer masonry of the presbytery.
Due to the Act of Toleration signed by Emperor Joseph II in 1781, the Rotunda of St. Martin ceased its religious activities in 1785. The rich interior decoration was transferred to the Church of St. Wenceslas in Old Boleslav. Until the end of the 19th century, the temple premises were used as warehouses and shops. Now the church belongs to the Czech Brethren Church.
During your excursion around Prague, you should definitely come here.
You can hear many epithets about Prague: hundred-towered Prague, magical, golden. Today, the capital of the Czech Republic is probably the most visited city in Central Europe. Extraordinary architecture and local cultural customs attract tourists from all over the world. Walking around the city, you can see almost all architectural styles in houses, churches, castles and squares.
The historical center of Prague is truly unique place, which combines Gothic, Baroque, as well as modern elements and designs. But, perhaps, it is the contrast of Gothic and later styles that gives the city panoramas such beauty and uniqueness. I will not only talk about some of the architectural features of the city, but will also try to visually display them using photographs.
Temples and cathedrals
The Gothic style was especially widespread in the Middle Ages. At this time, many rulers tried to leave a memory of themselves and erect some kind of large-scale structure, of course, it was in this architectural style. And since, unlike many large European cities, Prague did not suffer catastrophically from various wars, most of the Gothic masterpieces have been preserved. And although they have been reconstructed and rebuilt more than once, for many the foundation has remained unchanged.
The most striking representatives of the Gothic movement are, of course, religious buildings. What elements are inherent in these buildings? First of all, these are sharp spiers, high elongated windows and ornate carved relief decorating the walls and roof. It seems to me that while in Prague, it is worth visiting some temples and cathedrals made in this style.
Cathedral of St. Vitus
Church of St. Martin in the wall
It was erected in the 12th century in the settlement of Uezd. But when the Old Town fortifications were built a century later, the Uyezd was divided into two parts by a fortress wall. The church was located right on the border. Therefore, he found himself in two territories at once: inside the fortress walls and outside. This is why the building got its name – St. Martin’s Church in the Wall.
During the reign of Charles IV, the church was rebuilt in the Gothic style. The main nave (an elongated room typical of basilicas and churches) increased its height, and the internal space expanded due to the restructuring of the presbytery (the space between the nave and the altar). Throughout its history, the building has undergone many changes and modifications, and, as far as I know, the fortress wall erected next to it has not been preserved.
Address: Martinská 416/10a, 110 00 Praha.
How to get there: get to the Můstek metro station either on the yellow or green line. You can also get to the Národní třída stop by tram.
Temple of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn
This temple is almost the calling card of the Czech Republic, its most “postcard” building. It is located on Old Town Square, where almost all tourist excursions begin. The interior decoration is rich in statues, benches decorated with consoles in the shape of crowned heads, frescoes, as well as the oldest surviving tin font.
Address: Celetná, 601/5a, Stare Město, Prague 1.
How to get there: by metro on the green line to Staroměstská or Můstek station , and on yellow - to Můstek or Náměstí Republiky station . You can take the tram to any of the stops: Náměstí Republiky , Dlouhá třída , Jindřišská , Staroměstská, Právnická fakulta .
There are other churches and cathedrals built in the Gothic style: the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Church of St. Stephen, the Church of Saints and Paul, and the Bethlehem Chapel. They all have common architectural elements, and at the same time each has its own uniqueness. I was inside the Cathedral of St. Vitus, the power and simultaneous sophistication of which is amazing. I won’t retell all its features; you can read about my journey through this pearl of Gothic architecture in Prague. I was only able to see St. Martin's Church from the street, but you should definitely take a look inside if you have the opportunity. They say that this church used to resemble a fortress, and one could not only communicate with God, but also find refuge there. In addition, the internal architecture should be quite interesting: a ribbed ceiling, a private prayer place, the coat of arms of the family involved in the restoration, which was preserved on the facade.
Streets and squares
As mentioned above, you can admire the architecture of Prague right on the streets of the city. Perfect for this Famous places historical center.
Old Town Square
It is akin to Red Square in Moscow in popularity. It was here that all the most significant events of the last 500 years took place: coronations, executions, announcements of decrees, etc. Here are the main chimes of the country and the Tyn Church, which was mentioned above. This place presents a variety of styles and techniques of architecture, but many of them originate from or use elements of the Gothic movement. The streets leading from this place are rich in houses of an architecture that is difficult to imagine. For example, on the eastern side of the square there is the house “At the White Rhinoceros”, where the Gothic ensemble is broken by a Baroque facade. In Tynskaya Street, the house “At the Golden Finger” with a Gothic portal stands out.
The house “At the Stone Bell” on the corner of the same street and square is a three-story tower-palace with attached outbuildings.
Behind the facades of the buildings located opposite the Old Town Hall (Baroque-Rococo style) are houses from previous eras, with basements with Gothic arcades, reticulated vaults of passages and interesting architectural decorations. And there are a huge number of restaurants and pubs decorated in the style of medieval establishments in the area.
I learned a lot in the buildings of this square that were open to the public. historical facts, which allowed us to look at Prague and better understand why its cultural development went the way it did. It’s a pretty good experience: trying to imagine how iconic moments of past eras took place literally within these walls.
Address: Staroměstské náměstí.
How to get there: in fact, the same as to the Temple of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn, since it is located near this square.
Wenceslas Square
This is the shopping and business center of the capital of the Czech Republic. Celebrations, demonstrations and many other events take place here. To a greater extent, the square resembles a boulevard. The architectural style was finally formed only in the 19th and 20th centuries. Main feature houses located along the square is that almost everyone has a “passage” - a passageway connecting Vaclavak with other streets. Let me explain that Wenceslas Square is the common name for Wenceslas Square, widely used by local residents and well-established tourists. Therefore, do not be surprised to hear this name in this form.
Address: Václavské náměstí.
How to get there: take the green metro line to Muzeum or Můstek station , take yellow to Můstek station or take red to Muzeum station . Also by tram to the stop Václavské náměstí or Národní třída.
Hradcanska Square
This place is located near Prague Castle. How to get there and what else you can see in the area, read. The square itself is of great interest: in the square laid out in the center there is a “Plague Column” in memory of the epidemic that took Prague by surprise. There are many surrounding the square the most beautiful palaces, made in the Gothic and Baroque style, which can also be read in. And it is here that official state ceremonies often take place. Wandering among the buildings where kings lived and carried out their affairs, you involuntarily feel involved in some kind of secret.
Address: Hradčanske náměstí.
Paris street
This is a piece of France in the capital of the Czech Republic. According to the original plan, the entire area was supposed to be like in Paris, but only this street was improved. Houses here were built in all possible styles: neoclassicism, neo-Gothic, neo-Baroque. The street turned out to be not only elegant, but also somewhat pretentious, so the city residents did not want to live here. That is why the most expensive shops and restaurants in Prague are located here. The prices are truly astronomical, so save your nerves and don’t look at the local boutiques!
Address: Pařížská ulice.
How to get there: take the green metro line to the Staroměstská station, or by tram to the Staroměstská or Právnická fakulta stop.
The Charles Bridge
And it seems to me that you shouldn’t brag about having visited Prague until you have visited all the squares and streets listed above.
Monuments and fountains
Any city is rich in unusual sculptural groups, especially the capital, which is Prague. In addition, some creations carry not only an entertainment component, but also cultural and historical value.
Astronomical clock
They are one of the main attractions of the city and attract crowds of tourists every day. This medieval wonder not only shows the clock, but also the year, day, time of sunrise and sunset, as well as the position of the zodiac signs. All this is located on several dials.
According to legend, the creators of this miracle were immediately blinded so that they could not reproduce this beauty anywhere else. The clock rings every hour, and there is always a crowd of tourists under it, never tired of looking at it. During the battle, a skeleton figurine pulls the chain, and small statues of apostles and angels are shown in the windows. In terms of structure and shape, the dials can be attributed to the Baroque era, since the final appearance they took over after a major renovation in the middle of the 19th century. But the figurines of apostles and angels are more likely attributed to the Gothic style.
Address: Staroměstské náměstí, ¼.
How to get there: exactly the same as to Old Town Square.
Fountain at the Kafka Museum
Perhaps the most scandalous creation of local author David Cherny. Represents two bronze men pissing. They stand in a puddle, shaped like a map of the Czech Republic. It is unlikely that this fountain is of particular architectural interest, but it is worth seeing this miracle. You can read more about him and the Kafka Museum at.
Address: Cihelná, 635/2a.
Old Jewish Cemetery
There are about 12 thousand monuments on the territory, while there are about 100 thousand graves themselves. Since the cemetery area is very small, and it is prohibited to destroy old graves, they decided to bury them in layers. Because of this, the tombstones stand close together, almost on top of each other. It’s worth visiting here simply out of curiosity; another culture often attracts interest.
Address: Starý Židovský hřbitov.
Krizkov fountains
These fountains are also called dancing or singing fountains, since the reproduction of various water figures is accompanied by light and music. I was here for one of the performances that usually take place in the evenings after it gets dark. The show was amazing! Some performances sometimes involve dancers - they jump and do various combinations of movements right among the streams of water. The entire action is controlled by a central computer, and a separate program is written for each representation.
The fountains are located opposite exhibition complex Výstaviště Praha Holešovice (in the photo the building can be seen behind the fountains). There are many pavilions where various cultural events are held, and there is also a branch of the National Museum. It houses works of sculptors from different eras. Located nearby sports complex, which hosts hockey matches and concerts. And nearby, in a wooden building, is the Globus summer theater.
The complex of singing fountains was built for the opening of the First Czech Industrial Exhibition in 1891. A modern look they acquired thanks to reconstruction a century later, for the General Czechoslavak Exhibition. I believe this a most unique creation, combining entertainment and technical achievements.
Address: Výstaviště, 67 16, 170 00 Prague 7 – Holešovice.
How to get there: by tram to the Výstaviště Holešovice stop. 
Museums and galleries
We will not describe all the museums of the city, since this is a topic for separate article, we will focus only on those whose buildings are of architectural interest.
Jewish Museum
The museum conveys the unique atmosphere of the Jewish quarter. It is located in the center of the Jewish ghetto, in the Josefov district. The entire museum consists of many exhibitions scattered across six different buildings. The cemetery mentioned above is located nearby.
Inside the buildings there is a huge collection of books and items of national culture. The museum was founded by historian August Stein more than a hundred years ago. In the last century, during perestroika in Prague, the question arose about whether it was worth preserving so many Jewish synagogues. Some valuables were saved before the destruction of these buildings, and in 1906 the Prague Jewish Museum opened its doors. Not only rescued objects were presented as exhibits, but also important historical things of this people from many parts of the world.
Unfortunately, I was only in the building of the Spanish Synagogue. Exhibitions on the history of the Jewish Diaspora are held here. The church regalia of this people are also kept here. Organ and chamber music concerts are often held in the synagogue building. And by prior agreement, you can hold a real Jewish wedding here with all the traditions and customs! The architectural composition of this building is made in the Moorish style.
Address: U Stare školy 141/1.
How to get there: just like Paris Street, mentioned above, they are located very close.
National Museum
The entire museum is divided into several collections located in different buildings. The main one is located on Wenceslas Square and is its key object. Admit it oldest museum The city has an impressive appearance! The main building is made in the Neo-Renaissance architectural style, its creator was Joseph Schulz.
The museum was opened in 1818, at the height of the Czech National Revival. It was conceived as a local treasury. This part of the museum was built on the territory of the former horse gates, due to which it has great symbolic significance for local residents. Directly in front of the building is a sculpture depicting St. Wenceslas. On the main façade there are statues depicting the Vltava River and the Elbe, the lands of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia. Under the central dome is the Pantheon, a collection of busts of great people of Czech culture.
In the summer of 2011, the main building of the museum was closed for reconstruction, which will last until 2018. But you can still admire its facade, sculptures and beautiful decoration.
Address: Václavské náměstí, 1700/68 / Mezibranská, 1700/6 / Legerova, 1700/71.
How to get there: the same as to Wenceslas Square, since the museum is located there.
Antonin Dvorak Museum
The exhibition of this museum tells about the life and work of the composer. Antonin's personal belongings and documents are presented here: music manuscripts, photographs, paintings and even goose feathers, with which he wrote down his scores.
The building was built in 1712-1720. It is a luxurious example of Baroque architecture. Initially, this was the summer residence of the aristocrat Vaclav Michne, which is why the building was often called the Michne Palace. The museum appeared here in 1932.
How to get there: you can get there by tram to the I. P. Pavlova or Štěpánská stops, or by metro on the red line to the I. P. Pavlova station.
Bertramka
This building houses the Mozart House Museum, opened in 1956. Originally there were vineyards here, and the building, built in the classicist style, was the villa of Frantisek of Bertramka, for which the house got its name. The house was sold several times until one day Mozart visited it during his visit to Prague. It was here that the great work “Don Juan” was written.
The composer's sons often visited this villa after Mozart's death, and the eldest became close to the son of the owner of the house, Adolf. Imbued with the work of the great composer, his father bequeathed to preserve Mozart’s things after his death and organize a museum in Bertramck.
The walls of each of the seven halls are covered with fabric, to which are attached the originals of the musician’s plays. Also here you can see manuscripts, posters, documents and even thirteen hairs from the head of the great Mozart! Sometimes chamber concerts are held in this building, at which the composer's works are performed.
Address: U Mrázovky, 169/2, Prague 5.
How to get there: by tram to the Bertramka stop, or by metro on the yellow line to Anděl station.
Vanguard at Jungmann Square
If you are close to the advanced architectural trends of the early 20th century, welcome to Jungmann Square. Avant-garde buildings are literally concentrated here.
In 1931, construction began on a department store entirely in the constructivist style.
Nearby there is a building shaped like an elongated rectangle, only one window wide. This is one of the first concepts of Rondo-Cubism.
Also in the latter style is the Adria Palace, built for an insurance company. Nowadays there is a restaurant and theater called Bez Zábradlí.
Inside these red and black walls today is the Mozarteum music store, but in 1913 it was home to a popular concert hall.
The antique street lamp is also reminiscent of Cubism and was designed by Emil Krajicek and Matej Blecht in 1912.
Address: Jungmannovo náměstí, 110 00 Praha.
How to get there: you can get there by tram to the Václavské náměstí stop, or by metro on the yellow or green line to the Můstek station.
Modern Art
I would like to highlight several objects from modern architectural trends in Prague. Some are beautiful in their own way, while others form a contrast with cozy streets Prague and bright red-orange roofs.
dancing House
It was created in the deconstructivist style of 1992-1996, which is characterized by broken, deliberately destructive forms. The building consists of two cylindrical towers - a normal one, extended upward, and a “dancing” one. With enough imagination, you can see a man and a woman, respectively. The house is located by the river in Prague 2, at the intersection of Resslova street and the embankment.
Address: Jiráskovo náměstí, 1981/6.
How to get there: by tram to the stop Jiráskovo náměstí or Karlovo náměstí , as well as by metro on the yellow line to the Karlovo náměstí station.
Žižkov TV Tower
Construction began in the 1980s and was completed in the 1990s after the collapse of Czechoslovakia. Throughout the entire period, the townspeople actively protested: the remodel in the high-tech style stood out against the backdrop of cozy medieval Prague. The common people dubbed the tower a “rocket on takeoff.”
But in 2000, local artist David Cherny came up with the idea to put a dozen huge babies on the tower, which helped the townspeople come to terms with this structure. Moreover, it is unclear: either this modification really decorated the cold high-tech, or I just had to accept it, since further modernizations only worsen the appearance.
Address: Mahlerovy sady, 2699/1a Žižkov, Prague 3, město Praha, 13000. 
How to get there: by tram to the stop Lipanská or Olšanské náměstí , as well as by metro on the green line to the Jiřího z Poděbrad station.
By the way, pay attention to the cards that I insert into my articles. how convenient it is to use the 2GIS service, it helped me at least not get lost in the first days, and later it suggested a lot of useful information.
In conclusion, I would like to say that even if you do not understand architecture and do not know the features of various styles, this is not all that important. Just relax and admire the splendor around you. After all, even if you don’t know what something is called, it still looks beautiful! The architecture of the city made a tremendous impression on me; I want to walk the streets of Prague tens or hundreds more times, to see what had previously escaped attention.
.Anything to add?
Bigger size
Prague is simply a gift for lovers of architecture, especially Gothic architecture.
St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague
The most important masterpiece of Gothic architecture in Prague is certainly St. Vitus Cathedral (1) . The temple was built in several stages, starting in 1344, and was completed in the 20th century.
Saint Vitus is an early Christian saint. There is a legend associated with it - if a sick person dances in front of the statue of St. Vitus, he will recover. These dances were sometimes confused with a nervous disease - chorea. Therefore, this disease is sometimes called “St. Vitus’s dance.”
In fact, the cathedral, in addition to St. Vitus, is also dedicated to St. Wenceslas and St. Wojtoch.
Saint Wenceslas was the first Czech prince to introduce Christianity. He founded the first temple in Prague. Then a Romanesque basilica was built there. The first architect of the modern (Gothic) cathedral was named Matthias of Arras. And since he was French, it was French Gothic that served as a model for the future cathedral.
However, Matthias has just started construction. As you know, in the Middle Ages it took a long time to build. The second architect was the German Peter Parlez (he also built the Charles Bridge).
Thanks to him, the cathedral does not look like a copy of French Gothic. Subsequently, many generations of architects completed the construction of the cathedral. Some of the stained glass windows in it were painted by Alphonse Mucha.
The Charles Bridge
Another, no less outstanding monument of Czech Gothic architecture is Charles Bridge (2).
When in 1342, after a flood in Prague, it was demolished old bridge across the Vltava, Charles IV decided to build a stone bridge. Prague in the Middle Ages consisted of four cities - Hradcany, Old Mesto, New Mesto and Vysehrad. The king lived in Hradcany, and the townspeople lived in the Old Town. There was a bridge between the two cities, with gates at both ends.
The Old Town Tower was also built by Peter Parlež. Battles took place on the bridge during the Hussite wars. So the towers on the bridge served not only as decoration. Gothic sculptures have been preserved on the Old Town Tower. Here you can see Charles IV, St. Vitus and St. Wenceslas.
In addition to sculptures of rulers, there are many decorative masks and monsters. This is very typical of Gothic.
At the top of the tower on the north side there are two inscriptions in Latin.
SIGNA TE SIGNA TEMERE ME TANGIS ET ANGIS.
ROMA TIBI SUBITO MOTIBUS IBIT AMOR
These texts are read the same from beginning to end. It is likely that this is to protect the tower from evil forces. The constant repetition of the phrase represented a “devil’s trap,” a trap for an evil spirit. And if he wanted to do harm, he had to look for all the inscriptions to make sure that none of them was a spell against the forces of Hell. So the devils had to get entangled in a seemingly innocent toy.
Subsequently, the city government used the tower as a prison. The monuments on the Charles Bridge were erected at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries and date back to the Baroque period.
Church of St. Martin in the Wall (sv. Martin ve zdi) (3).
The church was previously built in the Romanesque style, then rebuilt in the Gothic style. On the south side the temple is adjacent to the fortress wall. That's why it has such a name.
Cathedral of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn
Very unusual gothic Church of the Virgin Mary before Tyn (Týnský chrám) (4)- the main old town church. It acquired its name thanks to the nearby court, Tynsky dvur. From the first half of the 13th century, this court served foreign traders as a customs office.
The church began to be built in 1360, in response to the construction of St. Vitus Cathedral. With this, the townspeople wanted to prove that they, too, were “not born with bastards.” The choir and aisles were built twenty years later. Interestingly, the authorship of the project is attributed to the same Peter Parlez. However, it is not difficult to notice that this Prague church is significantly different from St. Vitus Cathedral.
The head parish priest was also formerly the university priest. Due to the connection with the university, the Church of the Virgin Mary before Tyn became an important spiritual center.
During the Hussite Wars and many years later, construction of the church was suspended. The church was finally completed by 1511.
“The Church of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn is also interesting for its burials. Bishop Lucian of Mirandola, astronomer Tycho Brahe, Vaclav Berka of Dube and the Jewish boy Shimon Abeles are buried in the cathedral. Ten-year-old Shimon, the son of a Jewish merchant from the Prague Jewish Quarter, secretly went to sermons at the Jesuit monastery of Clementinum. The boy was later baptized. When the father found out about what had happened, he ordered one of his relatives to torture his son and then kill him. The body was secretly buried on Stary Jewish cemetery. After some time, the terrible crime became known, and Shimon's father was sent to prison, where he later hanged himself. His bloody assistant was wheeled on the wheel, but at the execution site he also recognized the Christian faith, which saved his life. When the grave of the murdered Shimon was opened, they found his body completely preserved and, as a martyr for the faith, he was solemnly buried in the Tyn Cathedral.”
Church of Our Lady of the Snows in Prague (5)
This cathedral was also founded by Charles IV. It was supposed to become the tallest temple in Prague, but remained unfinished.
Church of St. Stephen (6)
Civil buildings
Prague is interesting because the city has preserved many civil gothic buildings. These include almost all the houses in the vicinity of Old Town Square. In the 11th-12th centuries there was a market here, as a result of which wealthy people settled here. Old city was a few meters below modern city. This is why older houses have impressive basements.
IN All houses in the center of Prague have undergone later reconstruction. Reached us almost unchanged Old Town Hall.
The town hall consists of several buildings with a tower and a chapel. The buildings date back to the 14th century. Medieval interiors have been preserved in the inner premises of the town hall. The oldest medieval clock, located on the town hall tower, is the most popular tourist attraction in Prague.
The watch was made at the beginning of the 15th century by watchmakers Mikulas Kadan and Jan Schindel. Jan Schindel was a professor of mathematics and astronomy at Charles University. They show years, months, days and hours, sunrise and sunset times, moonrise and sunset times, and the positions of the zodiac signs.
Every hour, when the clock strikes, the figures, which are the embodiments of human vices and such dominants of human life as death or retribution for sins, begin to move. The skeleton pulls the rope of the bell, the angel raises and lowers the punishing sword. In the clock windows the faces of the apostles replace each other, and in the end a rooster crows. This is the ultimate gothic performance.
