The most beautiful religious buildings Czech Republic

It is here (Klausová synagoga) that Rabbi Löw, the famous father of the Golem, allegorical and protective figure of the Jewish quarter, which he is said to have shaped with his hands from the land of the banks of the Vltava before having to make it disappear because of the damage he caused, gave his teaching. In Baroque style, it houses the National Jewish Museum, which provides access to ancient Hebrew manuscripts. You can also consult documents from the ghetto before the major works of 1896. Its name comes from the word klausy, which meant the place that served as a school. The synagogue was built in Baroque style in 1680, on the site of three small synagogues, one of which housed Rabbi Löw's famous school. Today, inside, there is the collection Les traditions et les coutumes juives. The different stages of life (birth, circumcision, bar mitzvah, marriage, death...), Jewish holidays, their meaning and course are clearly explained through manuscripts and objects used on occasion, presented in display cases. A very beautiful insight into Jewish religious culture. You will see a large number of candlesticks, silverware, textiles and decorative objects. Across the street, in the narrow rooms and staircases of the Ceremony Hall (Obřadní Sněm), there will be an exhibition on death and its customs, illness and medicine. It describes medicine in the ghetto and Jewish cemeteries in Bohemia and Moravia.

A beautiful Baroque façade hides a Romanesque basilica (Bazilika svatého Jiříqui) considered to be the best preserved in Bohemia. It houses under its massive vaults the crypt of the kings of the Přemyslides dynasty and the remains of Saint Ludmila of Bohemia. The convent next to the basilica was founded in 973 and has since undergone many alterations. It was closed in 1782 under the reign of Joseph II to be transformed into barracks. The last reconstructions date from 1962 to 1974, when the convent was restored and adapted to accommodate rare paintings. Today, the building is the exhibition space of the Czech Art collection from Rudolf II to the end of the Baroque period. The works are exhibited in the rooms, some of which retain Romanesque and Gothic elements, others were marked by the Renaissance, and there is no shortage of Baroque either. Among the paintings from the time of Rudolf II, we can name the paintings of Hans von Aachen, Bartoloměj Spranger or Adrian de Vries. As far as the Baroque period is concerned, there are remarkable works by Karel Škréta, Ferdinand Maximilian Brokof or Petr Jan Brandl. The exposure is quite large: allow at least one hour. If you look at the interior architecture of the building itself, you will notice that it shines with its great austerity, contrasting with the other monuments in Prague which generally respond to the credo of the Rococo or Baroque, much more provided with ostentatious decorations.

The first Baroque church in Prague (Kostel Panny Marie Vítězné) was built by German Lutherans between 1611 and 1613. By 1624, it had become the property of the Carmelites. Today's appearance dates back to 1640, and today the church is well known thanks to the Pražské Jezulátko ("Little Jesus of Prague"). This 46 cm high statuette is made of wax and set with dozens of precious stones. The particularity of this "Jesus" is to have an abundant wardrobe: no less than 46 outfits, changed regularly about ten times a year according to the major religious holidays. It also has two crowns. The clothes he is not wearing are on display in the small adjacent museum. The statue was given to the Carmelites by Polyxena of Lobkowicz. You will find it on an altar to the right of the main nave. It arouses a mad devotion and is the cause of many pilgrimages. The church altars also deserve the attention of visitors, as many of the paintings depicting the saints were painted around 1700 by Petr Johannes Brandl, a rococo painter better known in the West since the fall of the wall, most of his works having been on the other side of the Iron Curtain. When you leave the church, all you have to do is cross the street to enter the shop that sells Bambino di Praga as a souvenir, in different materials, sizes and clothes. Other souvenirs are also on sale directly in the church.

This church (kostela sv. Jakuba Většího) was damaged in 1689, then refurbished between 1690 and 1739. It is a good example of the superposition of styles: a baroque covering on a Gothic building. Inside, there are masterpieces, including the mausoleum of Vratislav of Mitrovice, which Fischer von Erlach and Brokof created in 1714. This tomb is the most beautiful funeral monument of Czech Baroque. The painting The Martyrdom of Saint Jacob, is the work of V.-V. Reiner (1739).

Located at the entrance to the Charles Bridge on the Staré side Město, this typical Baroque church (Kostel sv. Františka Serafinského) was built in 1689. On this site was previously a Gothic sanctuary built by the Crusaders in the 13th century. Note the statues of the saints added in 1720 and its superb dome, especially visible from the bridge, or, inside, the painted ceiling representing the Last Judgment. Concerts are sometimes given there.

This square owes its name to the Bethlehem chapel, a true witness to the austerity of the reforms desired by Jan Hus. It surprises you with the colourful facades of one of the city's quietest and most pleasant squares. It was built in 1394 on the site of a malt house, in the heart of a district mainly inhabited by Czechs (and not Germans), who wanted to have a place of worship. It is of great importance for the history and culture of the country, because it was here in 1402 that Jan Hus, burned on July 6, 1415 in Constance for his ideas of reformation, became a preacher. The chapel, very simple at first, without even an altar and its spacious nave, could accommodate up to 3,000 people. It was redesigned in the first half of the 16th century, and it was at that time that the central nave was divided into six small naves. After the Battle of the White Mountain, it was bought by Jesuits and became a residential building in the 19th century. It was not until the 1950s of the 20th century that the chapel was rebuilt by the Czech architect Jaroslav Fragner, based on the original drawings preserved. The wall inscriptions that can be seen today were discovered during this reconstruction and bear witness to the passage of Jan Hus and his colleagues. This huge chapel has now become the site of a permanent exhibition that recalls its history. Every year, on July 5, Hus' death is commemorated there.

Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie a Karla Velikého is located at the end of the street, where old ramparts are visible and where a panoramic view of the Nusle district and the bridge is offered. Its colour makes it particularly visible. It was founded by Charles IV in 1358 as a tribute to Charlemagne. Its 24 m wide vault is impressive. Next to the church, housed in a former convent, the Police Museum (Muzeum Policie ČR) tells the story of the police, official or secret.

The monastery (klášter Emauzy) was completed in 1372 and was partially destroyed by the 1945 bombings. It was under the communist regime that it was equipped with its two modern arrows. The cloister is rich in superb frescos. The Church of St. John (kostel Svatého Jana Nepomuckého) on the other side of Vyšehradská Street is a pure masterpiece. Due to K. I. Dientzenhofer, it was built between 1729 and 1739, to the glory of Saint John Nepomuk to celebrate his canonization.

The Church of St Ignatius (Kostel svatého Ignáce) is the Jesuit church par excellence. It was built by C. Lurago in 1670 and its interior is dominated by a particularly rich Baroque and Rococo decoration. Destroyed during a bombing of Prague in 1945, it has since been rebuilt in its original style. Diametrically opposite the town hall, the Faust house (Faustův dům), at number 40 of the square, was inhabited by the famous doctor who sold his soul to the devil.

To the east of Josefov, the district around the convent of St. Agnes offers a calm and serene atmosphere and almost village street scenes. We are far from the proud high buildings of the western part of the district. Here, the houses are low and the narrow cobbled streets are sometimes narrow. The cloister is one of the oldest Gothic buildings to have survived previous centuries. It was Anežka Přemyslovna, the sister of King Wenceslas I who became a member of the Order of St Francis of Assisi, who asked for the foundation of this convent of the Poor Clares. Its construction began in 1234, but was not completed until decades later. In 1782, the convent suffered the same fate as many others in Bohemia: it had to close following a decree by Joseph II. The premises of the convents were then converted into warehouses. Since the creation of Czechoslovakia, the convent has housed the collection The Medieval Art of Bohemia and Central Europe (1200-1550). The sobriety of the church and the 14th century Gothic vaults highlight their beauty. It includes works by the master theorist who decorated Karlštejn Castle with his paintings on wood, as well as Slovak, German and Austrian works. Allow at least an hour to fully enjoy not only the collection, but also this architecture that no longer has many competitors in Europe. The concerts are given in the hall next to the church in a purely magnificent Gothic setting.

This large baroque building designed by the architect Dienzenhofer, author of many works in Prague, is part of the urban reserve, classified as a historical monument, of Kutná Hora by UNESCO. Planned after Kutná Hora's glory days, the construction was interrupted in 1743 due to a lack of money. Inside, a very beautiful spiral staircase decorated with frescos. An interesting exhibition of the collections of the castles of Central Bohemia is offered by the convent.

From the south of the square, you can reach this small and discreet church by taking the pedestrian street of Palackého. This Gothic building of Romanesque origin dates from the 13th century. At that time, it was part of the seigniorial farm where the local administrator sat. Its Romanesque prismatic tower, the oldest building in Telč, is about 50 meters high. You can climb it to look out over the city. Inside, one will see paintings by J. Křen.

Built in the early twentieth century on the site of a chapel of 1878. To finance its construction, the Orthodox priest of the time collected funds from Russian and Serbian curists. This Orthodox church was built by Gustav Wiedermann on a Greek cross plan. Its lavish interior style, including a richly decorated earthenware iconostasis created for the Paris World's Fair in 1900, evokes its counterparts in Russia and Ukraine.

It dominates the square and was the main place of religious services of the former Dominican monastery. The first church dates from 1238 but was destroyed by the Swedes. Between 1658 and 1679, a baroque building was built in its place. The richly decorated altar dates from 1759 and is the work of Josef Winterhalter. In the basement of the church is another unexpected curiosity: an imitation of the grotto at Lourdes, built here in the 1950s by devotees of the cult of Mary.

Located in the center of Republic Square, its construction began in 1295 and was completed in the early 16th century, but it continued to be transformed until the 20th century. It dominates the city with its 102 meter spire, the highest in the country! You can climb to the top of the tower (věž) and get a beautiful view of the city at the cost of 301 steps. But before that, take advantage of the large size of the square to walk around the cathedral and admire its elegant silhouette by taking enough distance. Inside the cathedral, the marble statue of the Pilsen Madonna (Plzeňské madony) adorns the high altar. It belongs to the style of the "beautiful virgin saints" of Czech Gothic art. According to the legend, it was made by a blind man in 1390, according to the wishes of the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary guided his hands during the work and restored his sight. Notice the back of the cathedral, where there is a sculpture with a grid with angels' heads. One of the angels is more polished than the others, and for good reason, it is a symbol of luck. It is said that whoever touches it will have his wish fulfilled. Next to it is the Plague Column (Morový sloup), built in 1681 as a "thank you" to a moderate spread of the plague epidemic that occurred the year before in Pilsen. In winter, the cathedral and the entire square take on a fairy-tale atmosphere when a giant illuminated nativity scene and ice rink take over the entire space.

This proud building is the most beautiful example of Gothic architecture in the city. Its construction, on the site of a 12th century Romanesque church, took place between the 14th and 16th centuries. Its tower, high and slender, has been rising into the city's sky since 1592. Various architectural elements and interior fittings were added. The most remarkable detail is a small statue of Cupid above the south window of the main tower. The interior, dominated by the superb late Gothic vaults, is surprisingly bright. One of the highlights is a stone pulpit dating from 1525. The main altar, neo-Gothic, is much more recent (1891). In the gallery are numerous tombstones richly sculpted in Renaissance or Baroque style. One of the local heroes, far from being Czech, rests here. It is the French Protestant Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches, who in 1645, during the Thirty Years' War, successfully organized the defense of the city against an imposing Swedish army. Serving the Holy Roman Empire, he remained at the head of the Moravian command before leaving for Hungary to fight the Ottomans in the 1660's. He died in a small Moravian village in 1682 and was buried in the Church of St. James in Brno, where one need only admire the decorative carvings of his grave to get an idea of the respect with which he was regarded. He became one of the most important historical figures in the city.

Built between 1844 and 1848 on the site of a chapel from 1830. Built in the neo-Byzantine style, this curious octagonal church, initiated by the abbot of the Teplá monastery, has a richly ornamented interior and an altar by Josef Max. Its plan follows that of an earlier chapel. From the outside, its twin towers and its white and pastel yellow colors give it a beautiful appearance, although the widening wings create an unusual optical effect.

This beautiful Romanesque-Gothic stone church, was built during the second half of the 13th century, during the extension of the Benedictine abbey of Třebíč. The oldest buildings are in the late Romanesque and then Gothic style, making it a major medieval architectural monument. The entrance portal, representing the entrance to heaven, is magnificent, as is the huge crypt with Romanesque columns. It is hard to imagine that until a few years ago this place was relatively abandoned and had very little mystical function: in the course of its long history it was used as a storeroom, a prison and even a brewery. Inside, the three naves are supported by imposing pillars. The boldly shaped vaults in some places resemble vast parachutes on top of the beautiful stone walls. The murals are also remarkable and the oldest of their kind in Central Europe. Behind the altar, the gothic rosette inspired by the one in the cathedral of Reims is worth a visit. The ensemble remains very harmonious despite some jarring details related to later reconstructions, mostly in Renaissance style. Just like the other monuments in Třebíč, the basilica did suffer from the siege by Hungarian troops in the late 15th century and underwent some work afterwards. It has been listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco since 2003.

At the level of the gate of České Budĕjovice, one enters this church, which belongs to the complex of the St. Augustine monastery. It conceals a peculiarity that warrants a visit: the altar is served by a double nave supported in its center by three posts dividing the volume into two spaces. Note behind the altar the stalls and the altarpiece of the XVIIIth century. You can also see the gothic presbytery and the fourteenth century ambulatory which has preserved some murals.

1 km west of Tábor, take this short poetic walk along a pretty path of the cross lined with beautiful linden trees to the beautiful Klokoty monastery: a beautiful place of pilgrimage (August 15) in the Baroque style. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, not far from a fountain where the Virgin Mary appeared to young shepherds, it is enclosed by walls and surrounded by chapels. The baroque church is surmounted by ten towers topped with lantern bulbs. The hotels and guest houses are often fully booked around August 15.

The square in front of the Saint-Nicolas church is decorated with a beautiful wrought iron gate from the 17th century and overlooks the river. Inside, the baroque decoration is superb. One can see there the Madonna of the Bread. On the same square, the discreet St. Wenceslas chapel (Kaple Sv. Václava) is a place of Orthodox worship. The interior is rather basic. However, don't forget to take the gallery that goes around it and that allows to dominate the river and the gardens.

It is the cathedral of the Augustinian monastery (Klášter Augustiniánu), founded in 1350. The church was severely damaged during the Thirty Years' War and had to be rebuilt between 1665 and 1675 by J.-K. Erna, who designed the beautiful three-winged church with an impressive Gothic nave that can be seen today. Inside, don't miss the painting of the Black Madonna, patroness of the city.

This Gothic church is the only one that can compete with the round tower of the castle, with which the "silhouette" of the city is drawn. It dates from the second half of the 14th century and has three naves with star-shaped vaults. Near the external staircase of the church, the vicar's house and its interior courtyard are one of the oldest Renaissance monuments in the country.

At 45 meters high, it is the largest synagogue in the country, the second largest in Europe and the third largest in the world! The basic plan was rejected, because with its twin 65-meter high towers, which made it visible from a large part of the city, it was feared that they would "overshadow" the tower of St. Bartholomew's Cathedral. The foundation stone laid in 1888 was therefore left alone for some time, while the new architect designed a new plan mixing Oriental, Moorish, Hindu and Russian Orthodox styles. Above all, towers reduced by 20 m explain the current size of the synagogue. In the end, the visitor is a little confused and does not know what to expect, because the facade evokes, apart from the symbolism linked to the Jewish cult, Bohemian or Russian Orthodox churches. The surprise continues in the interior, where Hindu influences are very clearly expressed with the sculptures of the holy ark.

During the war, the synagogue served as a military depot for the Nazis, before returning to worship with the return of the few survivors of the camps. Due to lack of funds, it was closed and abandoned in 1973 and its condition deteriorated for a quarter of a century before undergoing a first restoration at the end of the 20th century. This second restoration between 2018 and 2022 gave it back all its former glory. Far too large for the few members of the Jewish community of Plzeň, it is called to host concerts and exhibitions.

The church sits atop a wooded hill. This elegant ensemble is a jewel of Baroque architecture. Designed by Carlo Lurago, it was built in the ^17th century by the Jesuits. Its white and pink walls, bronze domes and red-tiled roofs dominate the city and are its true symbol. The name "Montagne Sainte" comes from a wooden statue of the Virgin Mary housed here. Montagne Sainte remains an important place of worship (at Easter and on August 15).

This Benedictine monastery was founded in 1115 to promote the colonization of the region. The complex was remodeled at the beginning of the 18th century by the Italian-Czech architect Santini, in a Gothic-Baroque style. He transformed the Romanesque basilica into a monumental place of worship, topped by a dome. Inside, the mixture of severity and flamboyance is unique. Today, in addition to the church, there is a beautiful cloister with baroque statues, the library and a beautiful refectory.

In 1975, it was decided to raze the historic center of Most to make way for an open-pit coal mine. The coal industry was a priority at the time. Experts succeeded in convincing the state to save the Gothic church with its beautiful barrel vaults. It was then decided to move it. Thanks to an exceptional technological operation, the entire church, weighing 9,600 tons, was moved in twenty-seven days to a distance of 842 m from its original location, i.e. 3 m per hour.

You won't miss this neo-gothic style church, all in brick, which dominates the Place de la Paix with its twin 60 m high bell towers. It was built at the end of the 19th century, between 1888 and 1892 by the architect Josef Mocker, as the number of inhabitants in Vinohrady was increasing. Emperor Franz Joseph visited the building shortly after its inauguration. The interior is well worth a visit, if only to admire the beautiful stained glass windows.

The convent (břevnovský klášter), in its present form, dates from 1709-1720, the work of Christophe Dientzenhofer. The adjoining cloister houses a room named Maria Theresa, whose ceiling is decorated with a famous fresco by the Bavarian painter Cosma Damien Asam and represents the Miracle of Blessed Vintir, a Benedictine pilgrim. It is one of the best preserved frescoes of the Prague Baroque. The basement of the Sainte-Marguerite church has preserved the original Romanesque crypt.

This church (Kostel Panny Marie pod řetězem) was the oldest in Malá Strana. A Romanesque basilica, of which there are still some elements, already existed in the 12th century. The square towers, so clearly recognizable from above, were completed in the 14th century. The complex was "baroqueized" in the 17th century. On the main altar is one of the best paintings by the Czech painter Karel Škréta, which dates back to the 17th century. A Latin Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 11am.

Originally (1736), Chrám sv. Cyrila a Metoděje was a Catholic church dedicated to St. Charles. In 1930, it became the cathedral of the Czech Orthodox Church. It was in its crypt that the men of Operation Anthropoid , who had killed Heydrich (Nazi governor of Bohemia and head of the Gestapo) in 1942, were besieged by the SS. The paratroopers defended themselves and repelled several assaults, but the Nazis called in the fire department to flood the crypt. Threatened by the waters, the escapees chose to kill themselves after trying in vain to dig a passage to the city's sewers. Their sacrifice and the severe repression that followed in and around Prague, particularly with the destruction of the village of Lidice, weighed enormously not in the war itself but in the recognition of Czechoslovakia as a state and ally in the battle against fascism, a status it had lost since its dismantling by Hitler in 1938. In the church, you'll be able to see a beautiful exhibition dedicated to the mission of the paratroopers who assassinated the "Butcher of Prague". The scenography has been redesigned for the eightieth anniversary of the mission in 2022. Read French writer Laurent Binet's excellent HHhH , which was subsequently produced as a film, while another feature film, directed by Szan Ellis, was also made in 2016 to detail Operation Anthropoid.

This Baroque church, thanks to its beautiful white and pink facade, embellishes Husova Street. It was built between 1734 and 1752 by the architect Kaňka, to celebrate the canonization of John Nepomuk. The interior decoration is very rich, and all the elements, wall paintings, sculptures, celebrate the various Czech patron saints. You have to look up to see the most impressive part of the decorations: the fresco on the ceiling represents the legend of St. John Nepomuk.