St. George’s Basilica is quite an ancient structure, despite the fact that it hides behind a 17th-century Baroque façade. It is the oldest preserved church in Prague Castle and one of the most significant Romanesque monuments in Prague.
The Basilica was founded in 920 by Prince Vratislav I – one of the first Přemyslids and father of St. Wenceslas. However, the original structure suffered a lot of damage over time, so it had to be rebuilt in the 12th century and had some later additions as well.
Unlike the magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral, this church does not possess any luxurious features and décor. But it is incredibly atmospheric, calming and reminiscent of the early days of Bohemia. This is also the first burial place of the Czech royalty – tombs of the Prince Vratislav and Boleslav II, as well as St. Ludmila (the first Czech Christian martyr) are located in St. George’s Basilica.
Apart from the beautiful red Baroque façade, notice two white towers behind it. The wider southern tower is called ‘Adam’ and the narrower one, which is slightly tilted, is ‘Eve’.
Once you step inside, you will notice that the interior design is very simple. Wood ceilings and massive stone walls create a certain feeling of austerity. The dome and the altar are decorated with frescoes by V.V. Reiner, which have still preserved vivid colours in some places.
The highlights of the Basilica include the chapels of St. John of Nepomuk and St. Ludmila, as well as the16th-century statue of ‘Brigita’. It depicts a decomposing body of a girl with a snake in her belly and illustrates an old Czech legend. According to this legend, she was the lover of an Italian sculptor who killed her because of jealousy, and creating this statue was his last wish before execution.
