ST Giles Church

The ST Giles Church in Prague’s Old Town is fairly easy to walk past but it’s got a history and even a few quirky facts associated with it. So let’s dive in.

The 13th Century ST Giles Church

A Catholic Order called the Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem (commonly known as the Teutonic Knights) had formed in 1191 to aid the journey of pilgrims travelling from Europe to Jerusalem and are often associated with creating hospitals on the route. By 1238 when they built the Romanesque-style ST Giles Church they had been transformed into a Military Order and participated in the Third Crusade. The emblem of the Teutonic Knights is a black cross on a white background.
Quirky fact: The emblem was the inspiration for the German “Iron Cross” given as a prestigious award in both the Imperial German Empire and during National Socialist (Nazi) rule.

The 14th Century ST Giles Church

Around a century after it’s first construction there started a period of reconstruction in 1339. Prague Bishop Jan of Drazice initiated the process and his successor Bishop Arnošt of Pardubice continued it. This version of the church was consecrated in 1371 and King Charles IV attended this consecration. On the present day church you’ll find the emblems of both bishops above the portal entry to the church.
Quirky fact: Arnošt of Pardubice was the last Bishop and the first Archbishop of Prague. You’ll find an image of him on the centre doors of ST Vitus Cathedral (right-hand door, bottom panel).

main entry to the st giles church in prague — Present-day entry to ST Giles Church in Prague where you see only a single bell tower on the right

The 15th Century ST Giles Church

In 1420, during the Hussite Wars, ST Giles Church was taken over by Hussites (present-day Presbyterians). At this time the church still had two towers. These towers, the church roof and bells were destroyed by fire in 1432.
Quirky fact: Upon reconstruction of the roof and right tower in 1437 a new bell was cast weighing just under 3 tons and having the name Giles. It is the oldest bell in the country.

The 17th and 18th Century ST Giles Church

The present-day church was taken over by the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) in 1625 who expanded the church and added the monastery buildings where the original cemetery has been located on the west side of the church. Most of the interior decoration is from the 18th Century Baroque upgrade. The Dominican bell in the right tower dates from this period.

The 19th Century ST Giles Church

monks not monkeys sign at st giles church in prague — The Monks at ST Giles Church don’t appreciate being photographed!

Money was raised to continue the renovation of the church. The left tower was not restored which gives the ST Giles church it’s asymmetric appearance. A third bell called “Maria” was added to the right tower.

The 20th Century ST Giles Church

The church avoided the closures of more than 700 churches and monasteries in the late 18th Century but it could not avoid the Communist era. It closed in 1950 and the monks were forced into labour camps. In 1990 ST Giles was returned to the Catholic church although much of the old monastery building is now owned privately.

Amadeus

As the interior decoration of ST Giles is largely from the mid-18th Century it was chosen as the scene in the 1984 film Amadeus depicting the 1782 marriage of Mozart and Constance. The door on the “Zlata Ulice” side of the building was also the scene where Mozart’s coffin was taken from the church and loaded onto a carriage.