Matthias Gate / Matyášova brána - 1614 - Prague Castle
N 50° 05.394 E 014° 23.920
33U E 456984 N 5548799
When you visit the Prague Castle, you will go through the Matthias Gate (Matyášova brána) from the 1st castle courtyard to the 2nd one. On the gate you can also find gilded inscription marking date of its construction - 1614 (MDCIX in Latin).
Waymark Code: WMMFGB
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 09/13/2014
Views: 84
The Matthias Gate was built in 1614 as a triumphant antique arch, standing separately between the Castle Square and the Prague Castle. It was an imposing gate to the royal residence.
On the gate you can find coat of arms of Emperor Matthias and incription in Latin:
D[ominus] Matthias El[ectus] Rom[anus] Imp[erator] S[emper] Aug[ustus] Hung[ariae] Boh[emiae] Rex etc. F[ieri] F[ecit] An[n]o MDCXIV
Translated into English: Lord Matthias, elected Roman Emperor, whenever noble king of Hungary, Bohemia etc., built it in AD 1614.
The gate is named after Roman Holy Emperor and Czech king Matthias, who had it built. The entrusted architect was Giovanni Maria Filippi. There is an inscription written in the gable, listing the emperor´s titles. The imperial sign is underneath that and there are also symbols of countries, ruled by Emperor Matthias.
Court architect Pacassi rebuilt the Prague Castle in the 18th century and he integrated the Matthias Gate into the entrance tract. There is a wide gateway for vehicles in the middle and narrow gateways for pedestrians by the sides of the Matthias Gate. The flagpoles at the top of the gate were made by Slovene architect Josip Plecnik. A large staircase leads from the Matthias Gate to the most important rooms of the Prague Castle, for example to the Spanish Hall and to the Plecnik´s Pillared Hall.