Church of Our Lady of the Snow, Gothic church at Jungmann Square, Prague, Czech Republic
The Church of Our Lady of the Snow is a Gothic place of worship on Jungmann Square featuring a soaring stone vault that dominates the interior space. The choir and side chapels showcase typical late medieval architectural elements throughout the building.
King Charles IV founded the building in 1347 as an offering for his coronation, originally planning an enormous structure with two towers. Construction was later simplified, and only the choir portion was eventually completed.
The church honors an ancient Roman tale where the Virgin Mary appeared in dreams to a priest and a matron, commanding them to build a sanctuary at this location. Religious paintings inside the building illustrate this story.
The entrance is located on the south side of the square, and visitors can explore the interior during opening hours. It helps to arrive early in the day to avoid crowds and experience the quiet atmosphere of the space.
The current building is only the choir of a much larger original vision - the complete basilica was meant to stretch over 100 meters long. This unfulfilled ambition makes the church a testament to a dream that was never fully realized.
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