Saint Castulus Church, Prague

It was built by the road leading from the ford near St. Valentine, around the jew settlement, to “na Poříčí”.

The most significant stage of construction in the 14th century can be reconstructed based on reports, structural and architectural analysis.

After a break when the construction of the northern nave should have begun, the initial project was changed, and it was decided to go with double-nave hall, instead of simple side nave, following style of architecture during the reign of king Wenceslaus IV.

This stage was partially finished in 1375 when there is documented the establishment of the chapel of All Saints, place of today’s sacristy.

The stonemasonry of Peter Parler also participated during construction, which is proven by finest stonework especially complex corbels on the perimeter walls of the side nave.

Meanwhile, at the east side of the church in front of the double-nave, the sacristy was built as an additional part of choir.

New solution for the building was convergence of supporting arcade pillars, which created characteristic T-shape.

This resulted in wall pressure relief above arcades between naves which holds the weight of the vault.

From facade stick up simple once graded supporting pillars with pent roofs.

The original, Gothic windows were lowered and finished semicircular in Baroque reconstruction.

Then it continues to bays corners onto cornice capitals, finished with prismatic console.

Supporting columns are also subtle with round base and on one side they consist of consoles with plant decoration below a mask of a wild man.

Between the vault-bays there is an inconspicuous partition that created a separate entrance to a spiral staircase that is leading to treasury above the sacristy.

In the side naves they are decorated with figural paintings - st. Agnese (1885), st. Cecilia (1906), Ludmila (1910), Wenceslaus and Ferdinand (1912), and st. Joseph.