St. George's Basilica in Prague: Discovering an Ancient Romanesque Church and Royal Tombs

St. George's Basilica is one of Prague's most significant Romanesque monuments, established around 920 AD. It is the city's second oldest church, notable for its twin steeples, Adam and Eve, and houses the tomb of the Přemyslid dynasty.

St. George's Basilica, located at Jiřské náměstí, stands as one of Prague’s most important Romanesque monuments and is the city's second oldest church, founded approximately in 920 AD by Prince Vratislav I. It gained historical significance when the remains of Princess Ludmila were deposited here in 925 AD. Following the establishment of the neighboring St. George's Monastery in 973, the church was expanded into a three-aisle basilica in the Otonian, early-Romanesque style. After a fire in 1142, it was substantially restored, gaining its current appearance with two white stone steeples, Adam and Eve, and Romanesque windows. The basilica served as the official burial ground for the Přemyslid dynasty until 1055. Notable figures interred here include Prince Vratislav, Prince Oldřich, and Prince Jaromír. The interior features Romanesque wall paintings on the choir vault and in the Chapel of St. Ludmila, which was added in the first half of the 13th century. Over centuries, the basilica has undergone modifications, including Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque additions, such as the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. Despite periods of disrepair, particularly when used by the army, it underwent significant reconstruction between 1887 and 1908 to renew its original Romanesque character.

Admission to St. George's Basilica is part of the Prague Castle circuit admission. Ticket prices for the circuit are standard CZK 450, concessions CZK 300, and family CZK 950. Further details on admission fees can be found at hrad.cz.