“Demolished but not forgotten” might be the phrase that best captures the story of bašta svatého Vojtěcha. Bašta svatého Vojtěcha no longer physically exists. But its memory remains woven into Prague’s history.
Today we stand where it once stood. Imagine the Prague of centuries past. The city walls stood tall defending its inhabitants. Bašta svatého Vojtěcha was a part of that defense.
Now let’s talk about the church of Saint Adalbert. It stood near the Powder Gate where the Municipal House stands today. In 1641 Archbishop Arnošt Harrach bought land with a dilapidated old courtyard from King Václav IV. Harrach paid Polyxena of Lobkowicz 15428 groschen. He adapted the building. He established the Bernardinum seminary with a school of theology and philosophy.
The church was meant to serve this seminary. Construction likely occurred between 1694 and 1697. This was during the reconstruction of the Archbishop’s seminary. The seminary had been established in 1636. It was built on the site of the medieval “royal court”. Jan Baptista Mathey was the architect.
The church had three altars. The main altar was from 1705. It featured a painting of the Death of Saint Adalbert. Michael Leopold Willmann painted it. There were also altars dedicated to Saint Augustine and Saint Ambrose. Jan Kryštof Liška created two paintings of Saint John the Evangelist and Saint John of Nepomuk. The church was consecrated in 1705.
In 1861 the interior was renovated. It then served as a military church. The buildings of the former seminary including the church were demolished between 1902 and 1903.
Saint Adalbert himself also has an interesting story. He was the second Bishop of Prague. He was known abroad by his confirmation name Adalbert. Adalbert came from the Slavník family. He opposed practices that conflicted with church teachings. These included paganism slave trade priestly marriage and widespread alcoholism.
He also promoted domestic Latin writing. However he respected Old Slavonic cultural traditions. He is credited with authoring some of the oldest Czech and Polish religious songs. One example is the well-known song Hospodine pomiluj ny. A crisis in the Czech state complicated his work. This crisis manifested as growing disputes between the Přemyslid and Slavník families.
Born to Slavník around 956-957 Adalbert received his early education from priests in Libice. He continued his studies in Magdeburg for nine years from 972 to 981. In 982 he was confirmed by Bishop Adalbert of Magdeburg in Levý Hradec. He also received the first level of higher priestly ordination the subdiaconate there. After returning to Prague he assisted the first Czech Bishop Dětmar. After Dětmar’s death Adalbert became the second Bishop of Prague.
Saint Adalbert’s story is one of faith conflict and ultimately martyrdom. Bašta svatého Vojtěcha serves as a reminder of Prague’s layered past. It connects religious devotion architectural ambition and the ever-changing cityscape. While the physical structure is gone its story endures adding depth to our understanding of Prague.