St. Nicholas Church (Malá Strana)

St Nicholas Church
The Church of Saint Nicholas
Kostel svatého Mikuláše
50°5′16.39″N 14°24′11.58″E / 50.0878861°N 14.4032167°E
Location Prague
Country Czech republic
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website Website of the Church
History
Founded 1704
Architecture
Status Active
Functional status Parish Church
Architect(s) Christoph Dientzenhofer
Architectural type Basilica
Style Baroque
Completed 1755
Specifications
Height 49 meters
Dome height (outer) 79 meters
Dome diameter (outer) 20 meters
Spire height 79 meters
Administration
Parish Malá Strana Prague
Archdiocese Prague
Clergy
Archbishop Dominik Duka, O.P.

The Church of Saint Nicholas (Czech: Kostel svatého Mikuláše) also called the Saint Nicholas Cathedral (Czech: Chrám svatého Mikuláše) is the Baroque church in Lesser Town, Prague. It was built between 1704-1755 on the site where formerly stood a Gothic church from the 13th century also dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It has been described as "the most impressive example of Prague Baroque"[1] and "without doubt the greatest Baroque church in Prague and the Dientzenhofers' supreme achievement".[2]

Interior of the dome

It was built by Christoph Dientzenhofer, later by his son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. The temple excels not only in the architecture, but also in the decoration, mainly by the Jan Lukas Kracker's frescos and inside the 70 m high dome by František Xaver Palko's. The interior is further decorated with sculptures of František Ignác Platzer. The Baroque organs has over 4,000 pipes up to six metres in length and were played by Mozart in 1787. Mozart's spectacular masterpiece, Mass in C, was first performed in the Church of Saint Nicholas shortly after his visit.[3][4]

The 79 m tall belfry is directly connected with the church’s massive dome. The belfry with great panoramic view, was unlike the church completed in Rococo forms in 1751-1756 by Anselmo Lurago.



References

  1. ↑ Neil Wilson, Mark Baker. Prague. 9th edition. Lonely Planet, 2010. ISBN 9781741796681. Page 9.
  2. ↑ Jack Messenger, Brigitte Lee. Prague. 5th edition. New Holland Publishers, 2008. Page 51.
  3. ↑ Norman Davies, Europe: A History, A Panorama of Europe, East and West, From the Ice-Age to the Cold War, From the Urals to Gibraltar (New York: Harper Perennial, 1998), 671.
  4. ↑ According to his widow, Constanze, Mozart loved the architecture of Prague, with its Baroque churches like St. Nicholas - he likewise praised the Orchestra of Prague, calling it his very "own", and was adored by the citizens of Prague. Constanze remarked that, "the Prague public admired and worshiped him wholeheartedly; this consoled Mozart for some of the slights he had received in Salzburg and Vienna." See: Heinz Gärtner, Constanze Mozart: After the Requiem, trans. Reinhard G. Pauly (Portland, OR: Amadeus Press, 1991), 67.

External links

Coordinates: 50°5′16.39″N 14°24′11.58″E / 50.0878861°N 14.4032167°E