New Town

Founded in 1397, the Church of Our Lady of the Snows is one of the most beautiful churches in Prague that is sometimes forgotten due to its slightly hidden location.

Wander through the lush rose-scented Franciscan Garden in Prague's New Town and you will happen upon this gem of a church. The strange structure will at once strike you as being very disproportional as it is much higher than longer. It was to be the grandest church in Prague based on the wishes of Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and was even supposed to be larger than St. Vitus. If the wishes and plans of Charles IV would have been realized the span of the church would have taken up the whole square – what you see today is only a small fragment. The odd name of the church comes from a 4th century legend when Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to a Roman merchant. She told him to construct a church at a location where he would wake to see snow in the morning – confused as it was the middle of summer in Prague, the merchant shook off the strange dream until he saw that the current location of Esquilinum Hill was indeed covered in snow. Surprised and shocked at the snowy vision, he had the Church of Our Lady of the Snows built on the same site. The altar inside the church, which is the tallest in Prague, displays a painting that depicts the legend. Make sure to have a look at the peaceful neighboring cloisters that showcase exhibitions of local artists. The Church of Our Lady of the Snows is a must see in the center of Prague's New Town. 

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