Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP SIGHTS
CHURCH OF ST JAMES
OFFLINE MAP
The great Gothic mass of the Church of St James began in the 14th century as
a Minorite monastery church, and was given a beautiful baroque facelift in the
early 18th century. But in the midst of the gilt and stucco is a grisly memento: on
the inside of the western wall (look up to the right as you enter) hangs a
shriv-
elled human arm
. Legend claims that when a thief tried to steal the jewels from
the statue of the Virgin around the year 1400, the Virgin grabbed his wrist in
such an iron grip that his arm had to be lopped off. (The truth may not be far be-
hind: the church was a favourite of the guild of butchers, who may have admin-
istered their own justice.)
Pride of place inside goes to the over-the-top
tomb
, found in the northern
aisle, of Count Jan Vratislav of Mitrovice, an 18th-century lord chancellor of Bo-
hemia. It's well worth a visit to enjoy St James' splendid
pipe organ
and famous
acoustics. Recitals - free ones at 10.30am or 11am after Sunday Mass - and
occasional concerts are not always advertised by ticket agencies, so check the
noticeboard outside.
DON'T MISS...
»
The thief's arm
»
The tomb of Count Jan Vratislav of Mitrovice
»
An organ recital
PRACTICALITIES
»
Kostel sv Jakuba
»
Malá Štupartská 6
