South view of the St Vitus, Wenceslau and Adalbert Cathedral
The St. Vitus Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and the seat of the Archibishop of Prague. It is part of the Prague Castle complex. Cathedral dimensions are 124 by 60 metres (407 ft × 197 ft), the main tower is 102.8 metres (337 ft) high, front towers 82 metres (269 ft), arch height 33.2 metres (109 ft). It is the largest and the most important temple in Prague. Apart from religious services, coronations of Czech kings and queens also took place here. The cathedral is a place of burial of several patron saints, sovereigns, noblemen and archbishops.
For the best view of Prague, go up to the observation’s deck of the Great South Tower which stands 90 metres high – you only have to climb 287 steps. From up there the view is breathtaking and you can see the Charles Bridge, Staré Město and Malá Strana.
The visit to the cathedral can take you an hour or two, it also depends on what else you want to see of the castle complex and how much time you have.
How to best experience St. Vitus Cathedral?
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What is the St. Vitus Cathedral?
St Vitus Cathedral (actually called the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslas, and Adalbert) is a cathedral in the grounds of Prague Castle and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. Until 1997, the cathedral was dedicated only to Saint Vitus, and is still commonly named only as St. Vitus Cathedral.
When was the St. Vitus Cathedral built?
The actual gothic cathedral’s construction began in 1344 commissioned by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV, and ended in 1929, after nearly 600 years.
What material is the cathedral made of?
The cathedral is constructed of sandstone, which tends to darken over time.
Who is buried in Prague cathedral?
The royal crypt underneath the cathedral contains the graves of Charles IV, his four wives, Wenceslas IV, Ladislas the Posthumous, George of Podebrady, Rudolf II and the daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria Marie Amalie of Austria.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to the St. Vitus Cathedral.
Location
It is part of the Prague castle. The address is: Prague Castle, 119 08 Prague 1, Czech Republic
Opening hours
To visit the St. Vitus Cathedral the times are as follows:
- From March to October:
Monday to Saturday: From 9 am to 6 pm
Sundays: From 12 pm to 6pm - From November to February:
Monday to Saturday: From 9 am to 4 pm
Sundays: From 12 pm to 4 pm
How to get to the St. Vitus Cathedral
To reach the St. Vitus Cathedral:
Tram stop: Prazsky Hrad, line 22.
Attractions nearby
- Prague Castle (143 m)
- Hradčany (238 m)
- Golden Lane (292 m)
- St. Nicholas Church (348 m)
- Malá Strana (424 m)