St. Giles Church

St. Giles Church is located just minutes’ walk away from the more famous and crowded St. Clement, St. Salvator, and St. Francis Churches near Charles Bridge, and features the same grand early Baroque interiors that made the Klementorium famous. Yet, St. Francis remains curiously empty―a shame, or perhaps rather a hidden gem, since it is well worth exploring. The building dates back to 1371, which is where it inherits its Gothic exterior, but like its sister churches down the road, it acquired its Baroque features sometime in the 18th century to keep with the times. The atmosphere inside is truly magical; it served as a film set for the Academy Award-winning Amadeus. The steeples on the outside are uneven, this is because in the 1400s, lightning struck the North tower, setting it on fire and burning it down to a lower height than the South tower. Originally intended to be restored to its original height, the repairs were never carried out, leaving it in its current state. Controlled by the Hussites since the beginning of the Hussite war in the 15th century, it was bequeathed to the Dominican order in the 17th century, who minister the church to this day. It’s a great place to stop by for a quieter, more authentic atmosphere or for organ concerts significantly cheaper than those you find in more crowded churches.