Church of the Virgin Mary (Prague Castle)

Ruins of the Church of the Virgin Mary

The Church of the Virgin Mary (Czech: Kostel Panny Marie) was the first known church built in the current area of the Prague Castle. The structure was built by Prince Borivoj I after 884, making it not only the oldest church in Prague Castle but also the second oldest in Bohemia. The church was rebuilt after a fire in the 11th century, but was eventually destroyed again in the 13th century and not rebuilt; it is known today due to excavations directly under extant administrative buildings. The surviving foundations indicate a rectangular nave and a semicircular apse; archaeological surveys uncovered tombs for members of the royal Přemyslid dynasty which was prominent in Bohemia during the early Christian era.

Burials (probable)

• Spytihněv I, Duke of Bohemia

Bibliography

• Ivo Štefan and Martin Wihoda (eds.), Kostel Panny Marie na Pražském hradě. Dialog nad počátky křesťanství v Čechách, Praha: NLN, 2018.