Church of Our Lady of the Snow
From Prague-wiki
Church of Our Lady of the Snow (Kostel Panny Marie Sněžné in Czech) is a beautiful Gothic church in the New Town, at Jungmannovo náměstí. The church of Our Lady of the Snow has the highest nave of all churches in Prague and in the Czech Republic. Its height is 39 metres from the floor to the vault. In fact the current church is only a presbytery of the originally intended church, which would be over 100 metres long with even higher vault (40 metres). It was intended as the Coronation church and if it had been completed, it would compete in greatness and splendour with Saint Vitus Cathedral.
The church was founded by Charles IV, Czech King and Roman Emperor, on September 3rd 1347 and presented to the Carmelite Order. The further fate of this outstanding historical and religious monument was very dramatic. The partially built church was consecrated in 1379. Unfortunately, the storms of the Hussite revolution interrupted the construction of the church and prevented its completion. At the head of the Hussite movement was Jan Želivský, who was murdered and buried here. The church was sacked and the ravaged monastery was inhabited by poor people.
In 1603 the Franciscan Brethren came to Prague. They started to rebuild the monastery and received the Czech aristocracy's help, mainly from Zdeněk Popel Lobkowitz. The church was restored and completed in a reduced form compared to the original designs. New additions were built in Renaissance and Baroque styles.
The Franciscan Brethren had been forced to leave their monastery in 1950 and came back here in November 1989.
The altar (1625) is a unique Baroque artwork. On the altar is a painting by an unknown Italian artist. This artwork demonstrates the event from witch the name the name of the church was derived - connection with the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. In the church we can find the entrance to Michael's chapel under the choir.
In the courtyard in front of the church, which is part of the originally intended triple nave edifice, there are two Baroque chapels, St. John of Nepomuk's and Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
 Western face of the building; on this site the nave of the church was intended to stand |
 East part of Jungmannovo náměstí |
 The courtyard in front of the church. |
