This exhibition is devoted to St Vitus Cathedral, the most important building built by Charles IV. It will present it as an extraordinary work of architecture, the coronation and burial cathedral of Czech kings, and also the spiritual centre of the Czech mediaeval state. The main attention will be paid to the parts of the building that were built during Charles’ reign. The cathedral’s rich sculptural decoration strongly associated with its architecture is mostly inaccessible to view while at the same time including leading examples of European Gothic sculpture. Parléř’s busts of the founders and builders of the cathedral have been preserved in their original positions inaccessible to the public and that is why we have decided to make these sculptural masterpieces available through faithful plaster casts mounted in a context that will match their actual location.

Another part of the exhibition will highlight the importance of the cathedral as the burial place of Czech kings, through newly restored unique findings of mediaeval textiles. Fragments of the funeral garments of the royal tomb which belonged to members of the Luxembourg dynasty, in particular Charles IV, his wives and sons, will also be on display.