Thursday, October 20, 2011

St Peter & St Paul. Vysehrad, Prague

My friend Jamie recommended coming here for its setting, its views and comparative peace and quiet (to the centre of the city). To be honest one glimpse of this twin spired church high on a cliff alongside the Vltava river would have attracted me here without a recommendation. The area around the church is flat and heavily fortified, with a park to the south and a cemetery of notable Czechs to the north and east. The church is the third on the site, a Gothic village church was followed by a baroque but still humble larger church, before the present neo-Gothic basilica was built 1885-87. There was an entry charge and a fierce woman was enforcing the no photography signs. The interior was rather dark and gloomy at first before the eyes adjusted to admire the series of wall paintings, frescoes and decoration. However everyone must take a break and luckily this lady took a brief (toilet?) break away from the desk leaving me with a short opportunity to brace the camera against the west doorway. He He! Not sure if I really liked this church overmuch inside, it is more impressive outside and from afar.

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