St. Stephen's Church, Gothic church in New Town, Prague, Czech Republic
St. Stephen's Church is a three-nave structure built according to Gothic design principles, with a polygonal choir on the eastern end. The interior contains Baroque chapels flanking the sides, and a western tower that has defined the exterior since the early 15th century.
The church was founded in 1348 when Emperor Charles IV brought relics of Saint Stephen from Rome and established this sanctuary. The western tower was completed in the early 15th century, giving the church its present-day exterior form.
The church is named after Saint Stephen, whose relics inspired its foundation. Today, visitors can observe multiple altars decorated with paintings of different saints, reflecting how various religious figures were honored in this space.
The church is open to visitors on weekdays and remains an active place of worship with regular services held throughout the week. Check ahead about service times to ensure you can explore the Gothic architecture and interior details without interruption.
The church's cemetery once filled the block between today's Štěpánská, Ječná, Na Rybníčku and Žitná streets; during the plague epidemic of 1502 more than fifteen thousand people were buried there. The grounds also held a rectory, a school, a wooden belfry later rebuilt in stone, the Chapel of All Saints and the Jerusalem Chapel.
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