Question: What if I told you that the walls around us hold the story of a saint? This is the story of Kaple sv. Václava. It is a masterpiece of Czech Gothic art. This chapel stands as the pride of St Vitus Cathedral. It is dedicated to St Wenceslas. He was the patron saint of the Czech lands.
Kaple sv. Václava honors a Bohemian Prince from the Premyslid dynasty. Sadly, his own brother assassinated him. The chapel was built on the site of a Romanesque rotunda. Wenceslas was originally buried there. Kaple sv. Václava still holds holy relics of the saint.
Charles IV built Kaple sv. Václava to honor the saint. He chose his favorite architect Petr Parler for the design. Charles IV even helped with the design himself. The chapel’s original look remains unchanged after centuries.
Every coronation once started in this chapel. Kings would pray here. It is said that night masses were held. This occurred when the Czech nation faced danger or difficult times. Masses are still held here today. But they only occur on St Wenceslas Day which is September 28th.
The value of Kaple sv. Václava’s decorations is incalculable. The lower walls sparkle with over 1300 gems. These gems were made in Bohemia. Gold covers the joints between them.
Ornate Gothic frescoes adorn the walls. These frescoes show scenes from St Wenceslas’s life and the Bible. Charles IV appears in the picture of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. The frescoes cover over 230 square meters.
In the center of Kaple sv. Václava stands St Wenceslas’s tomb. It is beautifully decorated and connected to an altar. The saint’s holy relics rest in a case on the tombstone.
A door in the southwest corner hides a staircase. This staircase leads to the Coronation chamber. It is the most guarded area in the Prague Castle complex. The Crown Jewels of the Czech Republic are kept in the chamber.
Kaple sv. Václava is usually not open to the public. However, visitors can view it from the entrance. It’s absolutely worthwhile. The original chapel had only a northern entrance. The southern entrance was added later. The Gothic door is made of oak with metal plating. A bronze Romanesque knocker in the shape of a lion’s head adorns the door.
The chapel’s walls are lined with polished gemstone plates. These plates reach about three meters high. Red-brown jaspers alternate with purple amethysts. Green chrysoprases from Silesia add to the beauty. Gilded plaster frames hold the stones. They symbolize the walls of the heavenly Jerusalem. This is according to St John the Evangelist’s biblical vision.
Paintings of the Passion Cycle decorate the areas between the stones. The Crucifixion scene is the most prominent. The exterior contrasts with the interior.
Portraits of Emperor Charles IV and his third wife adorn the walls. Alžběta Pomořanská wears the imperial crown. Angels and patron saints are also painted in the upper parts of the chapel.
The largest area features paintings of the St Wenceslas legend. One scene depicts St Wenceslas receiving relics from Emperor Henry the Fowler. The relics were for the rotunda at Prague Castle. Daniel Alexius of Květná added details to the paintings later.
The tabernacle on the altar was created by Franta Anýž. Vojta Sucharda added a relief. A polychrome statue of St Wenceslas stands above the altar. He wears armor and holds a spear and shield. Petr Parléř or his nephew Jindřich likely created the statue.
At the foot of the statue is a shield. Painted angels accompany the statue. Czech patron saints stand behind them.
Doors on the chapel’s southern wall lead to the Crown Chamber. Seven locks secure these doors. Representatives of the state, church, and city hold the keys. The Czech coronation jewels are stored in the Crown chamber. The chamber is above the Golden Gate of the cathedral.
The original doors were removed in 1868. They found a new home on Žižkov. They were placed along the railway line in Vitkovská street.
Kaple sv. Václava is more than just a chapel. It is a testament to Czech history, art, and faith. It embodies the spirit of St Wenceslas. It is a place of beauty, reverence, and national pride.