Prague Castle in the Czech Republic is home to one of the most famous Roman Catholic cathedrals in Europe, Saint Vitus Cathedral. Not only is it an amazing example of Gothic architecture, it is also the largest and most important church in the country and contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings. The cathedrals full name is St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral. The original church, also named St. Vitus, was a Romanesque rotunda founded by Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia in 925 and stood at the same location as the present day cathedral. The present day cathedral was founded in November 1344 when the Prague bishopric was raised to an archbishopric. It was intended as a coronation church, family crypt, treasury for the most precious relics of the kingdom and the last resting place/pilgrimage site of patron saint Wenceslaus. Construction on the cathedral spanned hundreds of years and was not truly completed until the early 20th century when the Union for Completion of the Cathedral of St Vitus in Prague was formed in 1873. [Read more…] about Saint Vitus Cathedral :: Prague, Czech Republic
czech republic
Český Krumlov :: Czech Republic
A short drive from České Budějovice, also known as Budweis (home to one of my favorites beers, the original Budweiser aka Budvar, Czechvar in the US), is Český Krumlov, a small city best known for its fine architecture & art as well as Český Krumlov Castle. In 1963, the town was declared a Municipal Preserve, in 1989 the castle became a National Monument, and in 1992 the entire complex was included onto the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Monuments. The town’s structures are designed in mostly Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. [Read more…] about Český Krumlov :: Czech Republic
Hluboka Castle :: Czech Republic
A short six miles north of the original home of Budweiser Beer in Southern Bohemia sits one of the most awe inspiring and beautiful sites you will ever see: Hluboká Castle. Actually a château, Hluboká Castle was built in the 1200s by the Czech king Přemysl Otakar II son of King Wenceslas I. It was extensively renovated in the 16th century during [Read more…] about Hluboka Castle :: Czech Republic