St.Vitus now in Church ownership

One of Prague's most visited tourist attractions has changed ownership. For 13 years the Roman Catholic Church sought to regain ownership of Prague's famous St. Vitus Cathedral, located in the Prague Castle compound and administered by the state. In June of this year the Prague City Court ruled that St. Vitus belongs to the Church. This week the Prague Castle Administration officially handed over its management to the Roman Catholic Church.

St. Vitus Cathedral

The resplendent Gothic Cathedral -located in the Prague Castle compound - is one of the city's historic jewels. Built in the 14th century - it witnessed the coronation of kings and queens and is the resting place of Czech saints, sovereigns and archbishops. The Church and the state have fought over ownership rights for over thirteen years. A 1954 government resolution gave Prague Castle the authority to manage the cathedral and surrounding property but the Prague City Court ruled that the transfer of management did not automatically imply a transfer of ownership. Although the state plans to appeal at the Supreme Court, it has been forced to comply with the ruling and hand over the administration of St. Vitus to Church officials. Vaclav Soukup, one of the new administrators says nothing significant will change for visitors:

Everything will remain pretty much as it is. We have just restricted the non-paying space for visitors so that the front part of the cathedral -close to the main altar- is more peaceful, quieter. After all, the cathedral is a house of prayer -and must above all serve a religious purpose.

St. Vitus Cathedral

Foreign tourists and visitors to Prague Castle will now have to pay 100 crowns (over four dollars) extra if they wish to enter the cathedral. Up until now it was covered by a singe fee for the entire Prague Castle compound. But the Church is now selling its own tickets for admission to St. Vitus. A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Church said believers who visited it as a house of prayer would be admitted for free but it is not clear how they would be distinguished from tourists who just want to look around. Vaclav Novotny of the Prague Information Bureau says there's likely to be a simple solution - if you come to attend mass you are a believer:

"Well, they have declared that believers will be permitted to enter free of charge but - as I see it - there will have to be a practical solution - people will be allowed in for mass free of charge and the rest of the time they will be expected to pay the entrance fee."

Although the Church has won ownership rights it nevertheless lacks the money needed to maintain St. Vitus Cathedral. The mentioned entry fee is a symbolic contribution in this respect and the Czech Catholic Church will need to ask the state to provide the necessary finances.