- Address: nám. Republiky, 301 00 Plzeň 3, Czech Republic
- Phone: +420 377 226 098
- Official website: katedralaplzen.org
The Cathedral of St. Bartholomew is a symbol of the city of Pilsen . It is in the center of its historical part and towers high above the old houses, thereby demonstrating its superiority. The history of the cathedral is quite interesting, besides it is believed that it was from the moment of its construction that the history of the "New city of Pilsen" began.
Building
The cathedral was built by the decree of Wenceslas II, and the official date of its opening was 1295, but in fact the church was erected until the second half of the 15th century. One of the reasons for such a long construction is the high cost of the project, which the city simply did not have enough money for. For example, according to the project, the Cathedral had two towers, 103 m high, but the budget allowed to build only one, so it was decided to abandon the second one. The introduction of changes took quite some time.
In addition, in the XIV century, there was a need to increase the Cathedral - the walls were expanded, and the architecture was changed somewhat. At the same time Charles IV ordered to do on the roof of the observation deck , which is still in effect. Each tourist, having overcome 301 steps, can climb on it and see the roofs of the old city. The site is located at an altitude of 62 m.
Architecture
The building of St. Bartholomew's Cathedral looks fascinating. Narrow long windows, a roof in the form of a tent in combination with strict lines of the facade make it a bright representative of the Gothic style. Inside the temple there are two rows of stone columns surrounded by wooden sculptures on pedestals. At the end of the temple there is an altar that appeared after a large-scale reconstruction in 1882. Next to it stands the sculpture of the Pilsner Mother of God, its height is 134 cm. The surviving documents refer to the author and the year of the statue's creation - he was a blind sculptor who finished work in 1390. A local legend says that after the Sculpture of Our Lady was given to the church, the creator received his sight.
No less interesting architectural object is located near the main tower of the cathedral, on the fence is an ancient image of an angel. Residents of the city assure that if you rub it, then any desire will come true.
Cathedral Square
The space in front of St. Bartholomew's Cathedral is an integral part of the temple. Their connection is shown by a copy of the statue of the Pilsner Mother of God. It is mounted on a plague column and painted in gold. In the 16th century, the Town Hall was built on the square, but in 1784 it was demolished. For a long time the street was simply paved with cobblestones. In 2010, they decided to emphasize the greatness of the cathedral with three gilded fountains. They are made in a modern style, and perfectly complement the medieval architectural ensemble.
Hotels near
To enjoy the beauty of the temple architecture, you can stay in one of the hotels near the Cathedral of St. Bartholomew:
- Hotel Central 4 *. The price for a double room is from $ 75;
- Hotel Rous 4 *. The cost of the standard is $ 105;
- Enjoy Inn Hotel 3 *. The average price per room is $ 60.
How to get there?
You can reach the Cathedral by public transport in Pilsen , next there are the following stops:
- bus "Namesti Republiky" - routes Nos. 33, 40, N1, N4, 20, 33, 40, N1, N4;
- trolleybus "Republis square" - routes Nos. 1, 2, 4.