The church was founded in the late 13th century, it is attached to a Minorite monastery of Franciscan allegiance. Its proportions are huge: inside you will be mesmerized by the length of the nave, the third biggest in the city, and by its staggering height that reaches 30 meters (98ft.), even though its vault was lowered some time ago.
The huge fire that destroyed part of the Old Town in 1689 led to a partial reconstruction of the building, in particular the new façade. It bears three large scale bas-reliefs: the scenes are very dynamic, veiled in celestial clouds and filled with cherubs, they represent the Apotheosis of St Francis, St James the Greater surrounded with pilgrims, and the Apotheosis of St Anthony of Padoua.
Inside, two Baroque masterpieces attract the eye: the altar painting representing the Martyrdom of St James, and the impressive group sculpture on the Funeral monument of Jan Václav of Mitrovice, the Maltese Order’s great prior.
The vault is adorned with trompe-l’oeil paintings.
The church also includes a rather macabre and unexpected object: a mummified human hand hanging on the wall. According to the legend, the hand belonged to a thief who tried to steal the jewels of the Virgin. The statue supposedly caught him by the arm, which had then to be cut off to free the culprit.
Saint James Church
Malá Štupartská 635/6
Prague 1 – Old Town
www.minorite.cz
www.auditeorganum.cz (for concerts)
How to get there:
Tramway, lines 8, 14, 26 stop "Náměstí Republiky"(Republic Square)
Subway: Yellow line B, station "Náměstí Republiky"
Roman Catholic worship.
Open for visits every day from 9:30am to 12pm and from 2pm to 4pm.
