Thursday, December 15, 2011

Prague Part 3 - Time to get my Goth on!

Tuesday the wake up call did not come and we woke up at 7:50 and Steve needed to be out the door at 8 so we rushed around and I helped Steve dress and get his laptop and documents together and out the door he went! After he left I 'layered on' again and headed out. One thing I love about Prague is that it is an 'early city' and their day starts early like I do....none of this 10'ish stuff you see in Paris and St. Petersburg....these people are on it! I really wanted to focus on Gothic architecture and art today. The Concierge was busy that day and I just used my own plans and took the Metro into Prague castle (found a better way a few days later) and walked the 'old castle step' which were steep and all rock and wide...it was a good workout but way too long and out of the way.....


First - I wanted to share this shot where it really shows the contrast in architecture in Prague....Baroque (Dome) on the left and Gothic (Spires) on the right. This was taken crossing the St. Charles Bridge into Old Town....



So inside the Castle walls is the most beautiful Gothic structure - St. Vitus....it is amazing. St. Vitus is the one that dominates the city skyline and is visible from far and wide.
St. Vitus is the spiritual symbol of the Czech state. Work on the cathedral was commissioned by Charles IV and began in 1344 upon the site of an earlier 10th century rotunda. In all, it took nearly six centuries to complete.
Its first builders, Matthias of Arras and later Peter Parler, built the chancel with a ring of chapels, St. Wenceslas Chapel, the Golden Portal and the lower part of the main steeple.
The final phase of construction only ended during the period 1873-1929.
As well as being the largest and most important temple in Prague, St. Vitus Cathedral also oversaw the coronations of Czech kings and queens.
In the chancel of the cathedral, in front of the high alter, is the royal mausoleum. Below this, in the crypt, there are the royal tombs. Czech kings and queens and patron saints are interred here.
St. Wenceslas Chapel is decorated with frescoes and semi-precious stones. A door in the south-western corner of the chapel leads to the Crown Chamber in which the Bohemian Coronation Jewels are stored. If you get a chance read about St. Wenceslas who was killed by his brother while heading to mass, it was a coup and the monks were in on it.


First I walked around the outside to capture the amazing structure and marveled at the thought of this being built without any industrial tools - all by hand and no computers - have we dummed ourselves down?


These pictures do not due it justice - but look at the carving in stone.....wouldn't you have loved to watch the masters work on this?


Time for some inside views - it was dark inside (perfect for Goth!) and again I had the place to myself and was able to take time to enjoy and soak it all in. Note the 'flying buttress' arches - way ahead of it's time. The incredible stained glass windows reminded me of my cousin Connie and her love and knowledge of stained glass. I wished I could have had her right beside me telling me what the images represented, I mean, I could tell it was certain things, but she knows the meaning if a lamb has one foot up, if a head is turned left, etc - all the artists nuances.....


The inside shots were so dark, so if you would like more info and professional shots - here is a good link: http://www.prague.net/st-vitus-cathedral







Stopped by to say hi to the Infant and then walked over the St. Charles Bridge and into Old Town for some more Gothic gazing.....


The beautiful 'Our Lady Before Tyn'....we are talking 12th century here....not allowed to take pictures in here - not sure why, was the only place they did not want cameras.....here is a good link that actually has pictures: http://www.prague.net/church-of-our-lady-before-the-tyn

After all that I went back into the Christmas Markets and all the outdoor vendors were cooking....today's lunch - Czech Pasta with sausage and tomatoes and cabbage.....warm and hearty! I purchased some and stood by the Astronomical Clock and watched that and shopped around a bit.


Around 2:30 I headed back to the hotel and regrouped....Steve came in and changed and headed out to a working dinner and I did room service and studied up for my Wednesday plans!
























































































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