Klementinum, St. Salvator Church (Charles Bridge)

The first sight after crossing Charles Bridge — classical concerts in St. Salvator Church, the Renaissance-Baroque gem of the Klementinum.

St. Salvator Church forms the grand entrance to the Old Town from Charles Bridge — its facade is the first thing visitors see after crossing the bridge. The church's history is closely tied to the arrival of the Jesuits in Prague and the construction of the Klementinum complex: building began in 1578 in Renaissance style under Marco Fontana di Brusata and continued in stages until 1714, with the Baroque renovation led by architect Carlo Lurago. Today the church serves as Prague's academic parish, and its noble interior regularly hosts classical concerts.

The Facade

Statues on its front and portico, designed by Jan Jiří Bendl, represent the Saviour Christ flanked by the four evangelists. The niche in the gable holds a statue of The Immaculate. At the opposite ends of the facade there are statues of St. Ignace of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, and St. Francis Xaverius, the missionary in Asia. Statues of the Church Fathers are placed on the balustrade.

The Interior

The interior is rich with stucco decoration. The altarpiece was painted by Jiří Hering in 1632 after “Transfiguration of Christ” by Raffael, kept in the Vatican. The ceiling fresco symbolizes the four continents known at the time. There are statues of St. Wenceslas (Czech main patron saint) and St. Adalbert in the aisles. In the middle of the left aisle is a rococo altarpiece of St. Aloysius, with a St. Ignace altarpiece at the end, the latter flanked by statues of St. Paul and St. Peter. In the middle of the right aisle is a rococo altarpiece of St. Stanislaus Kostka, with a baroque altarpiece of St. Franciscus Xaverius, flanked by statues representing India and Asia, at the end.

An altar with an iron-and-glass artwork designed by Karel Stádník in 1986 in the chancel represents the Universe. The raised platform covers a large crypt with remains of Jesuits. An 18th-century rococo pulpit is adorned with a statue of Moses at the summit and statues of Church Masters below, and with statues of four of the apostles at the top of the canopy. The twelve confessionals, carved between 1660 and 1670 by Jan Jiří Bendl and bearing statues of 12 apostles, rank among the best examples of early Baroque sculpture in Bohemia. A fine 17th-century grille separates the nave from the antechamber, where you can notice two marble fonts dating back to the 1600s.