St Nicholas Church
St Nicholas Church in Malá Strana (not to be confused with the one in Staré Město) is the most beautiful and famous Baroque church in Prague.
If the Saint Vitus Cathedral is considered the most impressive Gothic-style church, St Nicholas is a Baroque masterpiece.
The initial plans of the church were made in 1673 by the Jesuits. The Chapel of St Barbara was built first so that mass could be celebrated as soon as possible. It was finished in 1711. The rest of the construction was completed in 1752.
In the square where the church is located is the Plague Column with a statue of the Holy Trinity. It was built in 1715 by one of the most important Baroque architects of the time in Bohemia, Alliprandi.
Inside St Nicholas Church
St Nicholas Church houses numerous artworks, from the frescos on the ceiling and dome to the sculptures that adorn the walls. The church was designed by K. Dientzenhofer and three generations of his family (father, son and son-in-law) worked on the church during the following century.
Climbing to the Top of St Nicholas Church
The tower of St Nicholas Church is one of our favourites in Prague. Reaching the top is very exciting and includes numerous stops to visit different rooms of the spire. In these, you’ll get to learn a lot about the church’s bells and how they work.
From the top, standing 213 ft (65 m)-tall, the whole neighbourhood of Malá Strana is visible. During the communist regime, it was used to spy on foreign embassies.
Classical Music Concerts
The concert programme changes depending on the day and season but, in this Barroque church in Prague's Old Town, you can enjoy an evening of classical music played by a live orchestra.
Some of the European classical masterpieces you can listen to are" Toccata and Fugue in D minor" by Johann Sebastian Bach and "Violin Sonata" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Schedule
Open every day of the year from 9 am to 6 pm (there may be some days when it closes at 4 pm or 5 pm).
We recommend checking the opening hours on the official website.
Price
Adults: Kč 140 (US$ 5.88)
Children and students (ages 10 – 26) and seniors over 65: Kč 80 (US$ 3.36)
Children under 10: free
Prague Card: free entrance and discounts on concerts
Transport
Tram: Malostranské náměstí, lines 12, 20, 22 and 91.
Nearby places
Malá Strana (112 m) Vrtba Garden (142 m) St Vitus Cathedral (348 m) Prague Castle (386 m) Hradčany (404 m)