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Temperature: 24.2°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 4.0km/h
Wind Direction: NW
KOSTEL SVATÉHO KŘÍŽE MENŠÍHO
Karoliny Světlé, Praha 1 - Staré Město, PRAHA
Karoliny Světlé, Praha 1 - Staré Město, PRAHA
In the densely built-up area of the Old Town, at the corner of Konviktská and Karoliny Světlé streets, there is probably the oldest Prague Romanesque rotunda – Rotunda of Finding of the Holy Cross – Church of the Holy Cross.
In the 17th century, the rotunda belonged to the Dominican order of St. Giles. The chapel was closed under Joseph II in 1784, after which it served as a charity storehouse. The building was gradually dilapidating, and it was decided in 1860 that it would be torn down due to its dilapidated condition and in order to make space for a new building. Thanks to an organization of artists, however, this unique building was restored to its original condition, with painter Josef Mánes participating in its interior decoration. He also designed the decorative metal grille with a brier rose motif, separating the small park at the rotunda from the street.
The legend about the rotunda's origins says that there used to be a pond in place of the rotunda into which a crucified girl was thrown, being punished for adopting Christianity against the will of her parents. During a night storm, the cross allegedly raised itself above water, which was considered a sign from God. A large rotten cross was reportedly found in the foundations of the rotunda during its renovation. A different legend tells, however, that there is a vault under the rotunda with a big treasure, and a denarius of duke Jaromír from 1012 was really found near the rotunda.
The building itself was constructed using a perfect construction method probably in the 11th century, which is however not supported by evidence. It has a circular nave and a semi-circular apse on eastern side, decorated with an arch friez. Ceramic vessels were built into the apse and nave walls, with their necks directed to the interior space, in order to improve the acoustics. The rotunda is built from small marlite blocks set in lines. Larger blocks were used only from the 12th century. It is possible that it was originally a private sanctuary belonging to one of the curias in the Old Town. There used to be a parsonage nearby which vanished during the Hussite wars, and a cemetery around the rotunda.
The name of this rotunda seems very apt. The rotunda is situated in the supposed centre of the unique urbanistic cross of old Prague. The main axis of this cross connects St. Vitus Cathedral with St. Longin Rotunda near the Church of St. Stephen in New Town. This line, with a centre at the Rotunda of the Holy Cross, is crossed at a right angle by a line connecting the St. Clement Church in Old Town and the no longer existing Church of St. Philip and St. Jacob in Arbesovo Square. The distance between the pairs of churches is equal, and they therefore form a cross with limbs 2.400 metres long.
The azimuth of the connection line between St. Vitus Cathedral and St. Longin Rotunda corresponds to the azimuth of sunrise on summer solstice. Connection lines of other significant places passing thought the rotunda can also be found, which would confirm the hypothesis that it was the Rotunda of the Holy Cross that was the central point on which the conception of building old Prague was based.
It may be just a coincidence, but it seem quite plausible that when building the city of Prague, the Luxembourgian rulers only continued in the sophisticated conception of the city and its sacred places from the Romanesque period.
Today, the rotunda serves as a parish church of the Old Catholic Church.
In the 17th century, the rotunda belonged to the Dominican order of St. Giles. The chapel was closed under Joseph II in 1784, after which it served as a charity storehouse. The building was gradually dilapidating, and it was decided in 1860 that it would be torn down due to its dilapidated condition and in order to make space for a new building. Thanks to an organization of artists, however, this unique building was restored to its original condition, with painter Josef Mánes participating in its interior decoration. He also designed the decorative metal grille with a brier rose motif, separating the small park at the rotunda from the street.
The legend about the rotunda's origins says that there used to be a pond in place of the rotunda into which a crucified girl was thrown, being punished for adopting Christianity against the will of her parents. During a night storm, the cross allegedly raised itself above water, which was considered a sign from God. A large rotten cross was reportedly found in the foundations of the rotunda during its renovation. A different legend tells, however, that there is a vault under the rotunda with a big treasure, and a denarius of duke Jaromír from 1012 was really found near the rotunda.
The building itself was constructed using a perfect construction method probably in the 11th century, which is however not supported by evidence. It has a circular nave and a semi-circular apse on eastern side, decorated with an arch friez. Ceramic vessels were built into the apse and nave walls, with their necks directed to the interior space, in order to improve the acoustics. The rotunda is built from small marlite blocks set in lines. Larger blocks were used only from the 12th century. It is possible that it was originally a private sanctuary belonging to one of the curias in the Old Town. There used to be a parsonage nearby which vanished during the Hussite wars, and a cemetery around the rotunda.
The name of this rotunda seems very apt. The rotunda is situated in the supposed centre of the unique urbanistic cross of old Prague. The main axis of this cross connects St. Vitus Cathedral with St. Longin Rotunda near the Church of St. Stephen in New Town. This line, with a centre at the Rotunda of the Holy Cross, is crossed at a right angle by a line connecting the St. Clement Church in Old Town and the no longer existing Church of St. Philip and St. Jacob in Arbesovo Square. The distance between the pairs of churches is equal, and they therefore form a cross with limbs 2.400 metres long.
The azimuth of the connection line between St. Vitus Cathedral and St. Longin Rotunda corresponds to the azimuth of sunrise on summer solstice. Connection lines of other significant places passing thought the rotunda can also be found, which would confirm the hypothesis that it was the Rotunda of the Holy Cross that was the central point on which the conception of building old Prague was based.
It may be just a coincidence, but it seem quite plausible that when building the city of Prague, the Luxembourgian rulers only continued in the sophisticated conception of the city and its sacred places from the Romanesque period.
Today, the rotunda serves as a parish church of the Old Catholic Church.
May
23
Current Conditions : 24.2C, Clear 8:55PM CEST
Temperature: 24.2°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 4.0km/h
Wind Direction: NW
Temperature: 24.2°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 4.0km/h
Wind Direction: NW
