Perhaps the most lasting and evocative symbol of medieval Europe is Gothic architecture . In a period that can be summed up as the height of masonry, engineering innovations made spires taller and halls more cavernous. Stone was shaped into lightweight tracings, ribs, and flying buttresses. The heaviness of earth was crafted into palaces of the ethereal. Gothic architecture was often employed in the creation of sacred spaces, and royal and public architecture benefited as well. However, the painstaking—and quite dangerous―building techniques of the Gothic period necessitated that each structure be a work of passion. These buildings were made to last. Collections of original Gothic buildings can be found across Europe, but the historic Bohemian capital of Prague is one city were Gothic architecture still defines the civic image to this day. Here are seven of the best Gothic buildings in Prague.
The Old New Synagogue
This house of worship is the oldest active synagogue in Europe, dating from the late 13th century. Despite how synonymous Gothic architecture is with the Catholic cathedral, the movement influenced all sorts of sacred designs, including this unadorned synagogue in Prague from 1270. Note the buttresses supporting the outer walls.
Stone Bell House
The Stone Bell House, with its elaborate tracings in heavy masonry, was most likely built for the Bohemian royal family. If so, this would reinforce the modern understanding that Gothic architecture was usually reserved for the finest of structures.
St. Vitus Cathedral
Construction on the St. Vitus Cathedral commenced in 1344 within the grounds of Prague Castle. Like many Gothic cathedrals, St. Vitus was built not just over many years, but over many centuries. Construction was not fully finished until 1929.
Old Town Bridge Tower of the Charles Bridge
This Gothic gateway bridge tower was built in the late 1300s under the orders of Emperor Charles IV.
Powder Tower
The Powder Tower was built to emulate the Old Town Bridge Tower from a century earlier. It earned its moniker during the 17th century, when it was used to store gunpowder.
Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle
Built around 1500, Vladislav Hall at Prague Castle is one of the Czech Republic's most iconic interior spaces. The elaborate ribs on the vaulted ceiling represent one of the key structural advancements during the Gothic period.
Tower of Church of Our Lady Before Týn
The soaring towers atop the Church of Our Lady Before Týn were completed in 1511. Gothic towers were prone to cause building collapse, but this church still stands today, more than 500 years later.
