Beautiful, Even From The Outside
圣维特大教堂(Chram svateho Vita)的点评
点评:One of the reasons we made the trek up to Prague Castle was to see St. Vitus Cathedral. This massive Gothic structure is the centre piece of the castle complex. It is the largest and most important church in the country and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague.
The present church is the third to occupy this spot. The first was a small simple rotunda of Romanesque design constructed in 930 AD. It was later decided it was too small and a second larger and more spacious church also of Romanesque design was constructed in 1060 AD. The present structure was started in 1344 and would take almost 600 years to complete with interruptions due to various conflicts. Work would continue with additions, and renovations and repairs carrying on until the 21st Century.
The present Cathedral is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. It is 124 metres (407 feet) by 60 metres (197 feet) with the main tower being 102 metres (337 feet) high.
Until 1997 the Basilica was dedicated only to St. Vitus, hence its common name, however in that year it was expanded to include St. Wenceslaus and Adlabert of Prague and the name formally changed to The Metropolitan Cathedral of Saints Vitus, Wenceslaus and Adlabert.
Our attempts to fully explore the inside were not successful. The line ups for entry tickets was a long one and then one had to endure another line up to enter. Tour groups seemed to have priority, and the web site did note that advance tickets were strongly recommended. Spur of the moment visits like ours were not the best option.
We had to content ourselves with walking around the exterior and admiring the detailed stone and metal work and the elaborate frescos which in and of itself made the trek up the hill worth it.
翻译:我们不远千里来到布拉格城堡,其中一个目的就是参观圣维特大教堂。这座宏伟的哥特式建筑是整个城堡群的核心。它是捷克最大且最重要的教堂,也是布拉格大主教的驻地。
如今的这座教堂是历经三代才建成的。第一座教堂是一座建于公元930年的、风格简朴的圆形罗马式建筑。后来人们认为原教堂规模太小,于是于公元1060年又建造了一座规模更大、空间更宽敞且同样采用罗马式风格的教堂。现在的这座大教堂则始于1344年,由于多次战争的干扰,其建造过程断断续续,前后耗时近600年才最终完工。此后,建筑工作仍在继续,不断有新增结构以及翻修与维修工程,一直持续到21世纪。
如今的大教堂堪称哥特式建筑的杰出典范。它的尺寸为124米(407英尺)长、60米(197英尺)宽,主塔高度则达102米(337英尺)。
直到1997年,这座大教堂一直仅供奉圣维特斯,因此有了这个俗称。同年,教堂的供奉对象扩展至圣瓦茨拉夫和布拉格的阿德拉贝尔特,其名称也随之正式改为“圣维特斯、圣瓦茨拉夫与阿德拉贝尔特大主教座堂”。
我们试图彻底探索其内部,但未能成功。购买入场券需要排很长的队,进园时还得再排一次队。旅游团似乎享有优先权,网站上也明确建议游客提前购票。像我们这样临时起意的造访其实并非最佳选择。
我们只能满足于在园外漫步,欣赏那些精致的石雕与金属工艺,还有做工复杂的壁画——光是这些就足以让我们爬上山坡的辛苦变得值得了。