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Church of St Castulus (Kostel sv. Haštala)
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December 13, 2018Church of St Castulus (Kostel sv. Haštala)
This Gothic structure is probably from the second quarter of the 14th century. Over the centuries, the church has been gradually remodelled and rebuilt into the structure we see today – an irregular four-aisled basilica. The church’s furnishings are primarily Baroque. According to historical sources, the Church of St Castulus was one of the places where the remains of St Agnes of Bohemia may have been located. However, an archaeological excavation in 2010 was unable to confirm that the remains of this renowned Czech saint were here.
Contacts
- Church of St Castulus (Kostel sv. Haštala)
- Haštalské náměstí
- 110 00 Praha 1- Staré Město
- +420 222 318 186
- +420 602 204 213
Object history
The Church of St Castulus is a unique, irregular four-aisle basilica with towers. The church is located approximately at the site of an original Romanesque Hospitaller church which dated back to 1234. Remnants of this Romanesque structure and tombs were found during an archaeological excavation in 1993. The cemetery was located near the church at what is now Haštal Square (Haštalské náměstí).
The Gothic structure is probably from the second quarter of the 14th century. The church has been remodelled and reconstructed several times.
During the Hussite period, the church was administrated by the Utraquist church and it remained in their possession until 1624, when it was taken over by the Catholics. The church burned during the great fire of 1689, when French incendiaries set fire to the Old Town. At the site of the destroyed church, architect Paul Ignaz Bayer started to remodel the church in the Baroque style. Work was completed in 1695.
The interior of the church is modest. The Gothic space, with pillars and rib vaulting in the northern two-aisle section, is one of the finest examples of Prague’s Gothic architecture. This section houses a group of Baroque sculptures by Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff depicting the Passion of Christ. Gothic murals of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion have been preserved in the sacristy. A painting by Josef Scheiwl adorns the Neo-Renaissance main altar. The exquisite Baroque statues of St John the Baptist and St John of Nepomuk are also the work of Ferdinand Maxmilian Brokoff.
The flood of 2002 caused extensive damage to the church.
The church belongs to the Roman Catholic Church.
Source: https://www.prague.eu/en/object/places/1213/church-of-st-castulus-kostel-sv-hastala
