Medieval Booker
St George's Basilica in Prague Dennis G. Jarvis · CC BY-SA 2.0

Church ◆ Prague

St George's Basilica

Founded about 920 and rebuilt after a fire in 1142, this is the oldest surviving church interior in Prague and the one Romanesque building on the Prague Castle circuit. Behind the Baroque red front is a bare stone hall with the tomb of St Ludmila, murdered in 921, in a chapel on the south side.

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Where and when

Where
Jiřské náměstí 33, Prague Castle, 119 00 Praha 1, Prague, Czechia Open in Google Maps Walking directions
Era
Founded c. 920; rebuilt after the fire of 1142; St Ludmila's chapel 13th century
Opening
Daily 09:00–17:00 April–October, 09:00–16:00 November–March (as of August 2026)
Price
Included in the Prague Castle Circuit, CZK 450 adult / 300 reduced / 950 family (as of August 2026)
Best time
Any time — it is the least crowded building on the castle circuit. Concerts are held in it, so it can close early on event days.
Good for
Quiet cornerWorks in the rain
Official site
prague.eu
Map showing where St George's Basilica is
Open in Google Maps Walking directions © MapTiler © OpenStreetMap contributors

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What is St George's Basilica?

Prince Vratislav I founded a church here around 920, before the castle had a cathedral. His mother-in-law Ludmila, strangled in 921 on the orders of her daughter-in-law Drahomíra and later made the first Czech saint, was brought here in 925. In 973, when Prague got its bishopric, Mlada — sister of Boleslav II — founded the first convent in Bohemia beside the church, and the basilica was rebuilt as a three-aisled Ottonian basilica. It burned in 1142 and the rebuilding that followed gave it the shape you walk into: two square towers (the wider south one called Adam, the leaning north one Eve), a raised choir over a crypt, and a nave with round arches and nothing decorative at all.

It was the burial church of the early Přemyslids until St Vitus took the role in 1055. Vratislav I lies in the nave; the Chapel of St Ludmila, added in the first half of the 13th century off the south aisle, holds her tomb. Fragments of Romanesque wall painting survive on the choir vault and in the Ludmila chapel — faint, and worth standing still for a minute to let your eyes find.

The red-and-cream front on Jiřské náměstí is early Baroque, applied in the 17th century over a 14th-century west façade. The Baroque chapel of St John of Nepomuk on the south side was added by František Maxmilián Kaňka in 1718–22. Ignore both and go in.

The double staircase to the raised choir, the crypt beneath it and the plain masonry make this the clearest picture in Prague of what a church looked like three hundred years before Charles IV. It is on the same ticket as everything else at the castle, it takes ten minutes, and most visitors walk past the door.

What visitors say

4.4 from 2,713 ratings

  • Niki Nair

    5 out of 5 3 weeks ago

    A beautiful and peaceful basilica with a completely different feel from the cathedral. Its simple Romanesque architecture and historic interiors make it a worthwhile stop within Prague Castle.

    Read this review on Google

  • Neda Aryana

    5 out of 5 a month ago

    St. George’s Basilica is one of the oldest churches in Prague, dating back to the 10th century. Its simple Romanesque architecture, thick stone walls, and warm wooden ceiling create a peaceful and historic atmosphere. You can visit it with the Prague Castle ticket, which includes four different attractions.

    Read this review on Google

  • Gábor Majer

    4 out of 5 2 months ago

    St. George's Basilica (Bazilika svatého Jiří) is one of the oldest and most significant buildings within Prague Castle. Its striking red Baroque façade contrasts beautifully with the simple Romanesque interior, creating a unique blend of architectural styles. Founded in the 10th century, the basilica has witnessed more than a thousand years of Czech history. Inside, visitors can admire impressive stone columns, historic tombs of Bohemian rulers, and a peaceful atmosphere rarely found in the busy castle complex. The basilica offers a fascinating journey into Prague’s medieval past and remains a must-see destination for history and architecture enthusiasts.

    Read this review on Google

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Frequently asked questions

What is the oldest church at Prague Castle?

St George's Basilica, founded around 920 by Prince Vratislav I. St Vitus Cathedral, begun in 1344, is far younger; the basilica's present form dates from the rebuilding after the fire of 1142.

Who is buried in St George's Basilica?

Early Přemyslid rulers, including the founder Vratislav I, and St Ludmila, whose tomb is in the 13th-century chapel off the south aisle. It was the dynasty's burial church until 1055.

Is St George's Basilica included in the Prague Castle ticket?

Yes. It is one of the four buildings on the Prague Castle Circuit, CZK 450 for an adult as of August 2026, along with the Old Royal Palace, St Vitus Cathedral and Golden Lane.

Why is the front of St George's Basilica red?

The red-and-cream west front is an early Baroque facade applied in the 17th century over the 14th-century one. The Romanesque church is behind it.

Are there frescoes in St George's Basilica?

Fragments of Romanesque wall painting survive on the vault of the raised choir and in the Chapel of St Ludmila. They are faint and unlit; give your eyes a moment.

Festivals in Prague

Medieval festivals in Prague
Featured
Living History & Museums Music, Feasts & Theatre +1

Karlštejnské vinobraní (Karlštejn Wine Harvest Festival with Emperor Charles IV)

Prague, Czechia

Karlštejn's wine-harvest festival brings Emperor Charles IV, Empress Elizabeth of Pomerania and a court of more than 150 costumed courtiers back to the castle he built 30 km south-west of Prague to guard the imperial crown jewels. Held on the last weekend of September, it combines ceremonial processions up to the castle, mounted knights' tournaments, period music, crafts and tastings of young wine and burčák; the 28th edition is confirmed for 26–27 September 2026.

– 2026
Family

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