The imposing Gothic apse of St. Vitus Cathedral in the third courtyard of Prague Castle
The photograph shows the apse of St. Vitus Cathedral, the most important religious building in the Czech Republic. The Gothic structure, begun in 1344 and completed only in 1929, presents extraordinarily complex architecture with flying buttresses, pinnacles, spires, and large windows. The polygonal apse with its radial chapels is covered by copper roofs now oxidized green. The flying buttresses transfer vault weight to external buttresses, allowing the opening of large Gothic windows. In the foreground, tourists crowd the castle third courtyard, while on the right the Old Royal Palace can be glimpsed. The cathedral houses the tombs of Bohemian kings and the crown jewels. The blue sky with white clouds enhances the verticality of Gothic architecture.
