Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/46

34 formerly the palace of the princes of Lichtenstein; later of the Counts of Ledebour. But the chief point of attraction is the splendid Nicolas’ church, the most beautiful baroque building of central Europe north of the Alps, one of the chief works of the two Dienzenhoffers, Christopher and Kilianus, father and son, the famous masterbuilders of Prague. The building of this church extended over a period of forty years, from 1711 to 1751, and the slender spire was only completed after the death of the younger Dienzenhoffer in 1756. It is a sacred edifice of gigantic dimensions, the interior of which is as finely designed as the exterior, ornamented with real and artificial marble, with frescoes and sculptures, all productions of Dienzenhoffer’s contemporary Prague artists. It is an enchantingly beautiful part, just under the majestic dome, which is splendidly lit from all sides and is altogether a masterpiece, only possible in the baroque style.

Stepping out of the church we behold on our right a new enchanting view, the white façades of the Royal castle, above which rises the patina-green top of the brass covered spire of St. Vitus’ Cathedral the quaint outline of which has become inseparable from the picture of Prague. In the middle of the square there stands the bizarre pyramid of the Holy Trinity or the „pest memorial“ built by the Italian architect John Baptist Alliprandi, a memorial of the frightful plague which visited Prague in 1715.

If we now proceed from this group only a few steps towards the north-west corner of the slowly-rising square where Castle-street (Zámecká ulice) comes down, we get another really surprising prospect of the steep and crooked Neruda-street which in the middle-ages bore the name of Krokvicova, and until quite lately of Spur-street. The whole aspect is more original and characteristic than even the Celetná or Mostecká streets, it exhibits some of the finest specimens of the Prague baroque-style. And it can be truly said, that in no other place; not only of Europe but of the whole world are so many perfect varieties of this style to be found together, as in this unique street. Wide vistas, with views of several extensive palaces, and between them the narrow high façades of smaller