Zvuky Prahy / Sounds of Prague

The Church of St Wenceslaus in Smíchov district is one of the most beautiful examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture. The church was built in 1881 – 1885, according to the design of architect Antonín Barvitius. The front of the façade and two towers face Štefánikova Street. The 50 metre towers dominate the Smíchov skyline. The original bells in the towers were replaced with new ones cast by the famous bell foundry Petr Manoušek of Zbraslav. The bells first rang in February 1996. Created by Ludvík Šimek, a maiolica relief of the patron of the Czech lands, Saint Wenceslaus, with two angels is featured at the entrance above the main church portal. The interior of the three-aisle basilica his richly decorated. Ionic columns separate the nave from the side aisles. The coffered ceiling is polychrome and richly gilded. The mosaic at the end of the nave depicts a larger-than-life Christ with a group of saints (Saints Wenceslaus, Ludmila, Peter, Paul, Procopius and Adalbert), created based on a preparatory design by Prague painting academy Professor Josef Trenkwald. Painter František Sequens created four paintings under the mosaic depicting scenes from the life of Saint Wenceslaus. The side apses are also decorated with paintings and mosaics.The main altar, which was also designed by Barvitius, is made of several types of Carrara marble. Statues of St Adalbert and St Ludmila by Čeněk Vosmík stand before the altar.