Spot the Semi-Precious Walls of St. Wenceslas Chapel

The spiritual heart of St. Vitus Cathedral is the St. Wenceslas Chapel, constructed in the 14th century by master builder Peter Parler. While entry directly onto the chapel floor is restricted to preserve the historic masonry, visitors often rush past the viewing rope without noticing the extraordinary materials embedded into the lower walls.

Look closely at the chapel dado to see more than 1,300 polished semi-precious Bohemian stones, including deep red jaspers, amethysts, and chrysoprases, set into gilded mortar shaped into crosses. Above the stones run original 14th-century frescoes depicting Christ's Passion, contrasted with upper Renaissance murals illustrating the life of St. Wenceslas. Take your time to locate the small south-corner bronze door with a lion-head ring handle, which conceals the seven-locked chamber housing the Bohemian Crown Jewels.