King Charles IV laid the cathedral’s foundation stone in 1344. It was consecrated in 1929, and the last building work was finished in the 1950s.
The cathedral is loved for its magnificent stained-glass windows, including a huge rose window that fills the nave with color. Famous art nouveau artists, including Alphonse Mucha, designed the panels to the left of the entrance. Guided tours of the cathedral are popular with visitors looking to learn more about the fascinating architectural touches found here and their historical significance.
St. Vitus Cathedral is inside the Prague Castle (Prazsky hrad) complex. Visitors can reach the cathedral by public transportation via tram or metro, or as part of a guided tour of the city. The Malostranska metro station can be found at the bottom of the castle hill, and tram no. 22 stops close by at Prague Castle.
The cathedral is open daily throughout the year, with extended hours from April through October. On Sundays, it’s only open to tourists in the afternoon. The last entry of the day is 20 minutes before closing.
If you need to rest your feet after exploring the cathedral and surrounding castle buildings, head down the staircase in the third courtyard that leads to the pleasant shaded South Gardens. First cultivated in the 1500s, the gardens have a great view of the city, and there’s a huge yew tree that is thought to be 400 years old.
