St. Vitus Cathedral, entrance is in the Third Castle Courtyard (Tretí hradní nádvorí), Prague Castle

The spires of St. Vitus Cathedral, an elegant but domineering French Gothic structure, soar above the ramparts. It is the county’s largest church containing numerous side chapels, frescoes, tombstones. Not to forget the nave beautiful colour stained-glass windows (created by the famous Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha ) which literally sparkles with all the finery inside. The most beautiful of the cathedral's numerous side chapels contains the tomb of St Wenceslas, the ‘Good King Wenceslas’ of the Christmas carol, which has become something of a pilgrimage site, shows scenes from the life of Christ. The Coronation Chamber houses the Bohemian Crown Jewels and the Royal Crypt is where most of the Kings and Queens of Bohemia have their final place of rest (Charles IV, Wenceslas IV, George of Podebrady and Rudolf II). The southern entrance to the cathedral, the Golden Gate, is decorated with a richly gilded coloured mosaic representing the Last Judgement, dated from 1370, and it is one of the artistic treasures found in the Castle District.

Photo 362, Sept 2008

St. Vitus Cathedral, entrance is in the Third Castle Courtyard (Tretí hradní nádvorí), Prague Castle

Photo 364, Sept 2008

St. Vitus Cathedral, entrance is in the Third Castle Courtyard (Tretí hradní nádvorí), Prague Castle

Photo 365, Sept 2008