Rotunda of St. Lawrence, Romanesque rotunda in Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic.
The Rotunda of St. Lawrence is a round stone building in Romanesque style with distinctive arched vaults and substantial masonry within Prague's Old Town. The structure remains integrated into the neighboring St. Anne's Church, maintaining its original form and medieval construction methods.
The building was erected in the early medieval period and was later acquired by the Knights Templar, who transformed it into a significant religious center in Bohemia. This military monastic order shaped the sanctuary during the 13th century and connected it to broader Christian networks across Europe.
The name honors Saint Lawrence, an early Christian martyr whose devotion spread widely across medieval Europe. Visitors can observe how the round shape itself expresses this religious tradition and reflects the building practices of its era.
The rotunda sits in Prague's Old Town and is reached via Anenská street, where it now stands within the St. Anne's Church complex. Visitors should note that the structure is integrated into a larger ecclesiastical complex and can be viewed during the operating hours of the neighboring building.
The northern wall of the original structure was integrated into the outer masonry of the neighboring St. Anne's Church and still displays medieval construction techniques used by the Templars. This hidden integration makes the rotunda a puzzle for visitors, who must discover the concealed history within the modern church walls.
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