Saint Wenceslas Cathedral, Gothic Revival cathedral in Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Saint Wenceslas Cathedral is a church building in Olomouc, Czech Republic, combining Romanesque, Gothic and Revival forms. Three towers shape its silhouette: a main spire rising about 101 meters (331 feet) at the rear and two smaller towers flanking the front facade.
The building began in 1131 as a Romanesque basilica and was reshaped into a Gothic cathedral during the thirteenth century. Later alterations in the nineteenth century gave the church its current Revival appearance.
The cathedral serves as the seat of the Olomouc Archdiocese and takes its name from the patron saint of Bohemia, who lived during the tenth century. Its chancel preserves the relics of Jan Sarkander, a priest who died in 1620 during the Counter-Reformation.
The church opens daily and offers guided tours that cover architecture and religious history. Visitors can climb the towers and enjoy a panoramic view of the old town from above.
The rear tower is the second-tallest church tower in the Czech Republic and rises above the entire Moravian plain. Visitors often notice the colored glass windows in the chancel, installed during the 1880s and depicting biblical scenes.
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