St. James Basilica

Malá Štupartská 6 , Praha 1

Church

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Address: Malá Štupartská 6 , Praha 1
Winter heating: No
Wheelchair access: Yes
Reviews: (120)

St. James Basilica is renowned for its organ concerts and festivals

The impressive interior of the St. James Basilica is a treasury of Baroque art. Since the 13th century, St. James Basilica belonging to the Franciscan order has been an important spiritual center of Prague. It has been also a stop on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Throughout history, the church was spared from destruction by butchers' guild who had their meat market close by.

Of many legends related to the church the most famous is the legend of a thief whose severed hand of sin is still hanging on a chain in the church. 

The origin of St. James' large organ dates to the very beginning of the 18th century. After a major fire in 1689, a new organ was built by Abraham Stark of Loket, who had by then already produced several organs for various localities in Bohemia. The new two-manual organ was completed in 1705. The organ´s case, which is still admired today, was also unique for its time.

In 1941, the organ was enlargened and the Romantic disposition was added to original Baroque one. The latest reconstruction was completed in 1982 by „Varhany Krnov“ (Rieger-Kloss). All of Stark’s original voices, mostly including original pipes, were preserved, as well as many interesting Romantic tone-colours. At present the organ has four manuals, 91 speaking stops and 8,277 pipes.

See the detailed information about the organ.

Did you know?

The monastery of St James is one of the stops on the Way of St James to Santiago de Compostela. In 1974, Pope Paul VI awarded the church of St. James the honourable title of Basilica Minor.

How to get there:

  • Accessibility by public transport:
    metro B (yellow line) - Náměstí Republiky station
    tram - Náměstí Republiky stop
  • Nearest car parking:
    underground of Kotva Shopping Centre or Palladium Parking, Prague 1