Basilica of St. Margaret in Prague-Brevnov / Bazilika Sv. Markéty v Brevnove
N 50° 05.076 E 014° 21.359
33U E 453926 N 5548235
Basilica of St. Margaret in Prague-Brevnov (In Czech: Bazilika Sv. Markéty v Brevnove) ranks amongst the most valuable buildings of the peak Baroque period in the Czech Republic.
Waymark Code: WM6G71
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 05/30/2009
Views: 194
Basilica of St. Margaret constructed at the site of older pre-Romanesque, Romanesque and Gothic churches (993-1400), belongs among the most precious buildings of the Benedictine Archabbey of St. Vojtech (Adalbert) and St. Margaret (alias Brevnov Monastery). The church was built in 1708-1715 probably by the design of Kryštof Deintzenhofer. The specialized literature mentions a possible participation of other architects. The project plan of the presbytery and the belfry is attributed to Kilián Ignác Deintzenhofer. The oblong hall building is divided into three parts. It features shallow niches for the lateral altars and a long monastic choir. The interiors of the Basilica are decorated by the works of the famous Czech Baroque painter Petr Brandl.
The tower, which is situated at the rear part of the church, has several floors and an octahedral onion shape dome with the lantern and the finial on its top. The previous tower once used to house the oldest bell in Prague from 1313. For reasons which are unknown today, the bell was moved to the belfry of the Prague City Hall. Here the bell was destroyed during an extensive fire in May 1945.
It is interesting to note, that this is the very first Prague church that received from the Pope the honorary title Basilica Minor.