Prague Loreta - what objects are behind the magnificent façade. Loreta Hotel (Hotel), Prague (Czech Republic) deals
In Hradcany there is an amazingly beautiful complex of buildings, which we call “Loretta” for short. There is a church, a monastery and the holy hut of the Virgin Mary.
But the story will not be about architecture, but about what is hidden inside. Namely, about the statue of a bearded woman - the holy Starosta. Yes, yes... And it turns out that this happens.
The Holy Headman is the patroness of all young girls who are sought to be married off against their wishes. The story of her life is short, tragic and very reminiscent of the stories of all early Christian female saints.
Headman (also known as Liberta And Vilgefortis) was the daughter of a Portuguese king. An influential father promised her as a wife to the pagan Sicilian king. The headman did not want to have a pagan husband; political intrigues, calculations and even the Sicilian throne did not interest her at all. And the Portuguese king, in turn, was not at all interested in her whims. Therefore, the wedding ceremony was planned, and the only thing the girl could do was to pray on the eve of the wedding and offer one single request to the Almighty: by any means to be delivered from marriage.
And here a truly unexpected turn occurred: in the morning the girl woke up... with a long beard. Of course, there was no longer any talk about the wedding. The king did not appreciate his daughter’s new appearance and ordered the girl to be crucified on the cross.
If we assume that the unfortunate girl never existed, the question arises - how did such amazing iconography come about? In the early Byzantine period there was a crucifix Volto Santo di Lucca. Here it is!
As you can see, Christ is wearing a long tunic, not a loincloth. Pilgrims began to distribute small copies of this crucifix throughout Europe, and the rich imagination of people and their ignorance turned the figure of the Savior into a holy martyr.
Where is the Holy Starosta?
Address: Prague Loreta, Loretánské nám.7, 118 00 Prague 1 – Hradčany.
How to get there: tram number 22 to the stop "Pohořelec"
Breakfast could have been better.
Length of stay: August 2019
Russia4 marks “helpful review”
9,6
Perfect
- . Rest
- . Solo traveler
- . Sent from phone
It would be possible to add a kettle and tea/coffee making facilities to the room.
The hotel's location is simply unique - Prague Castle, as they say, is just a stone's throw away, and Charles Bridge is less than 20 minutes' walk away. Strahov Monastery is a 3-5 minute walk away. Near the hotel is the famous Loreta. There are many inexpensive good restaurants and pubs within a 15-20 minute walk towards the Břevnov district.
Length of stay: August 2019
Russia5 marks “helpful review”
9,6
Perfect
- . Rest
- . Pair
- . Sent from phone
cool hotel, perfect place location, decent breakfast. original rooms in an ancient building. very cozy and comfortable. I was also pleased with the price.
Length of stay: July 2019
Russia9,2
Perfect
- . Rest
- . Family with small children
- . 4 nights stay
I liked everything, thank you. We did not experience any negative emotions, great holiday, honest people!
Thank you very much for your vacation, everything was very good. The excellent location of the hotel, friendly staff, everything is clear, silence and a homely atmosphere fundamentally distinguishes this hotel from chain hotels! Magnificent courtyard! penetration into the era!
Length of stay: July 2019
Russia1 mark “helpful review”
Fabulous
- . Rest
- . Family with small children
- . 1 night stay
- . Sent from phone
Wonderful hotel in a quiet location! Ideal for families with children. Inside there is a wonderful courtyard where the child can take a walk before bed, while the adults at a table in the courtyard enjoy a glass of homemade lemonade left by the hotel staff (many thanks for this!) The staff is very pleasant and helpful. Upon request, a kettle was placed in the room to make porridge for the child before bed. The breakfast was excellent, without hot food, but it was enough. Yogurts, cold cuts, juices, coffee, milk and sweets, fresh fruit. Separately about the location. It is priceless to walk at night to Prague Castle, see the empty streets, enjoy the air and silence! And all this is 2 stops of tram 22 from Malostranskaya) We will definitely return to the same hotel again!
Length of stay: June 2019
Russia2 marks “helpful review”
8,8
Very good
- . Rest
- . Travelers with friends
- . Sent from phone
We found ourselves in hot weather, so the room was stuffy, there was no air conditioning. Breakfast is quite simple - actually sandwiches, sweets and tea/coffee.
Closed area, quite quiet, despite the fact that the surrounding area is teeming with tourists. Clara (receptionist) is very nice and responsive, she responded promptly to all requests. If you want to live in silence and at the same time in the epicenter (10 minutes walk to Charles Bridge and 5 minutes to St. Vitus Cathedral)
Length of stay: June 2019
Russia4 marks “helpful review”
“Nice cozy hotel in the center of Prague”
- . Rest
- . Travelers with friends
- . 1 night stay
- . Sent from phone
Breakfast, of course, is rather weak. And also Wi-Fi! It’s practically non-existent! But what a place!
I really liked the hotel. It was a little unexpected when we got to the hotel grounds, although we had read the reviews. It’s a small but very beautiful area, each person living together has a separate entrance. And inside the room you feel like you’re in a fairy tale or traveling back in time .The building was built in the 13th century! Although 8 centuries have passed, the walls seem to have absorbed the events of that era! Although the furniture, of course, is not from the 13th century, the owners clearly wanted to convey that flavor! They succeeded! Thank you very much! And an undoubted advantage, of course, is its location. It is located in the historical part of Loretta, within walking distance of all the main attractions of Prague! Of course, I recommend this hotel! It’s just some kind of miracle! Next time I’m in Prague, I’ll definitely go to Hotel Loretta!
Length of stay: June 2019
Germany1 mark “helpful review”
- . Rest
- . Pair
- . 2 night stay
- . Sent from phone
Very beautiful and cozy hotel, amazing location, quiet and comfortable, very suitable for a holiday in Prague!
Length of stay: May 2019
Russia26 marks “helpful review”
Fabulous
- . Rest
- . Family with small children
- . 1 night stay
Wi-fi is weak...
The location of the hotel is simply gorgeous. All attractions are nearby. Very good paid parking. The car was standing on private territory behind a huge fence. The room is clean and comfortable. It has its own yard. The staff is very responsive. Helped with all questions.
Length of stay: May 2019
Russia4 marks “helpful review”
9,6
“Very nice hotel near the Stagovsky Monastery.”
- . Rest
- . Pair
- . 1 night stay
- . Sent from phone
No parking. The location is in the center, but it’s a fair bit of uphill to get to the hotel.
A very nice and comfortable hotel in the Loretta monastery complex. Old, authentic building. Near Strahov Monastery and Prague Castle. Super breakfast.
Length of stay: May 2019
Russia1 mark “helpful review”
Fabulous
- . Rest
- . Pair
- . Sent from phone
There wasn't enough hot food for breakfast - omelets/porridge. Everything else was great!
Amazing atmosphere old Prague!❤️ A very nice 13th century mansion, but everything inside is new and neat! It was very clean! Thank you:)
Length of stay: May 2019
Russia10 marks “helpful review”
9,2
Perfect
- . Rest
- . Pair
- . 4 nights stay
It’s a little hard after the day hiking return to the hotel. The whole road is uphill, albeit small...
The hotel itself has its own internal territory, located in a historical building. Cozy and clean rooms. Good breakfast. Very original.
Length of stay: May 2019
3 marks “helpful review”
"Fabulous! Thank you!"
- . Rest
- . Pair
- . 3 nights stay
Vacationed with my wife April 21-24, 2019. I liked the hotel very much - cozy, clean, quiet, each room has a separate entrance from a nice enclosed courtyard. Daily cleaning, European breakfast. The hotel is located in the most beautiful historical place. There are many restaurants nearby where you can have a delicious meal. The staff is very nice and friendly. Before the trip, we checked with the hotel and asked to book a taxi for us from the airport, but when upon arrival we went through passport control (the procedure took almost an hour), it turned out that no one was meeting us. We called the hotel, they were very upset because they had placed a taxi order. As an apology, we were offered to take a taxi from the airport ourselves and were reimbursed for the fare upon arrival. In addition, we arrived at the hotel much earlier than check-in time, we were given the keys to the room, allowed to leave our things, after which we carried our bags to the room ourselves. We were pleasantly surprised and grateful for the attention and responsible attitude. Our best recommendations.
. GroupA few negative points. We ordered a transfer, but for some reason it wasn’t available. We ran around the airport five times, but we couldn’t find it, we had to take a taxi, and the “kind” guy charged us 30 euros. On the way back we ordered it ourselves, it cost 12 euros. The second unpleasant moment, in last night something happened with the heating and hot water. We froze a little at night, because second blankets were not provided for this case, and we couldn’t take a shower, which is also not very good. And most importantly, there is no one to contact. It’s too late to write an email because we returned from the excursion at 9 pm. If the staff is aware of this situation, why didn’t they take action and provide people with at least additional blankets.
Very good hotel. There were no problems with check-in. Since we arrived after 17:00, and the reception is only open until 17:00, Clara described in detail how to get to the room, for which I thank her very much. Breakfasts are delicious and filling. When we left early for an excursion, before the official breakfast began, we were fed early without any problems. The rooms are clean and bright. Towels are changed daily. The house is old, excellent sound insulation, round ceilings, interesting antique-style furniture. A very cozy patio with a water pump. Near Loretta Cathedral. To the St. Vitus Cathedral, along a clean cobbled street, about 15 minutes at a weaving pace. Very quiet area, green, we slept with the windows open, but at 4 o'clock the birds started singing. Well, there’s no getting around it, I had to listen.)))) Great hotel, great place, we recommend it.
Length of stay: March 2019
The Prague Loreta is a rare case of a copy surpassing the original. Conceived as an imitation of the Holy Hut, which is located in the Italian Loreto and is one of the main Christian shrines, Loreta in Prague turned into huge complex beautiful buildings, which quickly became an object of pilgrimage.
What is the Holy Hut and how did it end up in Europe
Helen, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine I, is known as the spreader of Christianity. She conducted excavations in Jerusalem and it is believed that Christians owe it to her for the discovery of the Holy Sepulcher and other important relics. According to legend, she discovered a house in Nazareth where the future Mother of God, then simply Mary, lived, and where she received the news that she was destined to give birth to the Messiah.
Elena ordered to build a church over this hut. The temple was destroyed by the Saracens in the 13th century, and the holy house was also under threat. It is assumed that the savior of the hut was Nikephoros I, who ruled in the lands where Greece and Albania are now located. It was probably he who organized the transportation of the house to the territory of present-day Croatia, and from there the structure, in a way unknown to science, ended up in Italian city Loreto. Most likely, a Roman couple did it. Be that as it may, archaeologists confirm that part of the wall of the hut is identical to Mary’s house.
In Italy, a basilica was built around the hut, and the place became a popular pilgrimage destination. And then Loreto churches also began to be built in other European cities.
Construction of Loreta in Prague
The pious and devout aristocrat Katerina Benigna from Lobkowice wanted to have a copy of the Holy Hut in Prague. Or rather, she didn’t even want a copy, but a copy of a copy, since the model for the Prague Loreta was not the Italian one, but the Loreta from Mikulov. Katerina forked out the cash, provided her own land for construction, hired the Viennese architect Giovanni Orsi, and transferred the management of the future church to the Capuchin Order in advance. Construction began in 1626, and it is believed that symbolic quantities were used Construction Materials from Italian Loreta.
The hut was decorated with frescoes and figures, and a church was built around it, which was consecrated in 1631. But the construction was not completed there - for example, a composition of three dozen bells was assembled only in 1694, and Prague residents heard the first music of these instruments a year later.
Like the original Loreta, the Holy Hut in the Czech capital has become a place of pilgrimage. This became the key to endless expansion and constant reconstruction - and as a result, the complex of buildings in Prague surpassed the original. In the thirties of the 18th century, Kilian Dientzenhofer decorated Loreta with a magnificent Baroque façade, and around the same time the Loreta Treasury, a collection of important artifacts and jewelry, was formed. Repairs and reconstructions continued until the last century.
Complex concept
Today Loreta is a closed perimeter building, built around a courtyard with the hut itself, which is the center of the complex and built over the tomb of the Lobkowitz family. Around the courtyard there is a gallery, whose arches are decorated with frescoes; there are also six chapels and two fountains.
On the same axis with the Holy Hut are the tower and the Church of the Nativity of Christ, which has been repeatedly reconstructed. Installed on the tower chimes, the device of which includes the same bells. Their range is three octaves, and every hour the mechanism performs hymn to the Virgin Mary.
Some buildings of the complex deserve a separate description.
Holy hut
The outside of the Holy House itself is decorated with reliefs of scenes from the life of the Madonna, sculptures and paintings. The marble reliefs are made using the stucco technique and are barely distinguishable from the painting, and one of them tells the legend that the house was allegedly transported from Palestine by angels. There is even an artificial crack in the hut, which is made in imitation of the Italian Loreta, which was damaged by lightning.
Inside are silver altar and antique wooden statue the main character of all this splendor. Figure of the Virgin Mary made of linden, so it turned black over the centuries, becoming similar to the Italian example made of cedar.
Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows
This most remarkable of all the chapels in the complex is decorated with the oldest sculptural composition in all of Loreta. It's about about the Gothic drink - this is the name given to the images of the scene of Mary mourning the body of Christ lying on her lap. Pieta of Loreta dates back to the first half of the 15th century.
On the altar of this chapel is woman crucifix with mustache and beard. This is the holy Starosta, who, according to legend, asked God to help avoid an unwanted marriage with a pagan. The Lord gave her abundant facial hair so that the groom himself would refuse such a bride. It worked - the marriage ended. But the Starosta’s father, who ordered her to be crucified, was also upset - so she became a martyr for the faith.
Church of the Nativity of Christ
This temple is a classic example of Baroque, in the interior of which Rococo is clearly visible. The main altar is decorated with a Christmas-themed painting and statues. The side altars are smaller, but no less luxurious. They are also decorated with sculptures and angels; they contain the remains of two Christian martyrs of the 3rd century.
The picture is complemented by a vault with valuable paintings - this frescoes"The Birth of the Lord", "The Presentation of the Lord" and "The Adoration of the Three Kings". In front of the facade there is a terrace surrounded by a balustrade with statues of angels, and the dominant facade element is a tower with chimes and bells. They can be controlled either by a mechanical system that plays the hymn hourly, or manually by a live musician.
Treasury
The basis of this collection of valuable things was the property donated by Catherine, the founder of the complex. There were so many of them that they had to build a separate treasury. Most of The objects date back to the 17th-18th centuries, and the oldest of them is a goblet in the Gothic style, made in 1510. The collection consists of a variety of church utensils, works on religious themes and liturgical objects.
The main exhibit of the treasury is the so-called Prague sun. This is a diamond vessel for storing the Holy Gifts, 90 centimeters high. It is made of gold and silver, decorated with 6222 diamonds and weighs 12 kilograms.
Despite the fact that the Prague Loreta was conceived as another copy, it turned out to be unique and inimitable architectural complex filled with works of high art.
The name of one of the most famous Prague monasteries - Loreta - is closely connected with the House of Our Lady, which is now located in Italy. The hut in which the Virgin Mary lived was dismantled and brought from Palestine to the Italian town of Loreto, which became a holy place for many believers. In the Middle Ages, people believed that the hut was transported to Italy by itself. Among those who came to venerate this shrine were Czechs. Around the same time, a fashion arose to recreate similar huts in different European cities. Thus, a copy of the House of the Virgin Mary appeared in Prague. The work on the marble chapel of Santa Casa, which exactly replicates the Hut of the Virgin, was carried out by the Italian sculptor D.B. Orsini. Inside there is a silver altar, and the walls are decorated with frescoes preserved from the 17th century.
This chapel is considered the heart of the Loreto monastery. All other buildings were built around it.
Next to the chapel is the Church of the Nativity of Christ, built in the Baroque style. This temple houses the relics of the martyrs Felicissimo and Marcia. The bells on the church tower were created at the end XVII century in Amsterdam and are still used by the monastic brethren.
After visiting the chapel and main temple, as well as looking into the well right in the center of Loreta’s courtyard, you need to go to the second floor of the gallery surrounding the courtyard. There is a monastery treasury, the main exhibit of which is the monstrance “Prague Sun”, studded with diamonds.
Before leaving the monastery there is a chapel where there is a sculpture of the crucified Vilgefortis. She is considered the patroness of wives who are unhappy in marriage.
Friends, hello! If you read the previous article, then you have an idea of what the Prague Loreta looks like - a complex in the center of which there is a relic of the Holy Hut. Loreta is one of the most visited attractions in Prague. A melodious ringing is heard hourly from its tower in the neighborhoods, attracting the interest of not only knowledgeable people, but also inquisitive tourists.
Many, approaching Loreta and seeing the front façade with a terrace and many Baroque sculptures, think that this is the whole complex. But only a small part of the wealth that Pražská Loreta has is visible. The main object of the courtyard, which is hidden behind the façade, is the Holy House, similar to the biblical Holy Hut, where there is a statue of the Virgin Mary of Loreta with her child:
Behind the facade there are also galleries with six chapels painted by famous artists. The central – seventh – chapel was modified so much that it was transformed into a church. For those who want to know more about the Prague Loreta, the information in this article:
- Cloister of Loreta
- Holy house
Cloister of Loreta
Visitors to Loreta first find themselves in a covered bypass that frames a rectangular courtyard. This is the cloister of the Loreto complex:
Let me warn you right away: if you visit Loreta on your own, be sure to take an audio guide. Without an accompanying story, this excursion will definitely not be complete. The audio guide is accompanied by a convenient map-scheme, which indicates the recommended route of inspection and identifies key places, which are accompanied by an interesting narration.
The cost of the audio guide is 150 CZK, exactly the same as the price of the entrance ticket. But this way you can find out historical facts and legends, hear descriptions of chapels and interiors, and also understand what kind of precious objects are presented in the Treasury.
Each of the six chapels of Loreta's cloister is framed in a gallery niche. They were created by the architect Christoph Dientzenhofer during the first major reconstruction of Loreta at the beginning of the 18th century. The first corner chapel is dedicated to St. Anne:
Then there will be the chapels of Francis of Assisi and the Holy Family. The gallery itself is also worthy of attention, on the ceiling of which almost all biblical scenes are depicted. The artist Felix Antonin Scheffler created 47 paintings on the arched vaults of the gallery and in the chapels of Loreta:
Visitors linger the longest at the last chapel when they walk around the perimeter of the gallery. The chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Sorrows. The center of the main altar of the chapel is the sculptural composition Pietà:
This is Loreta's oldest ensemble. But in this chapel there is also an additional side altar, looking at which many visitors shudder - there is a crucifix of a woman with a beard. The legend says that this is a saint who refused to marry a pagan and prayed all night for strong arguments to appear that would upset her marriage. Arguments appeared in the form of a mustache and beard, and the angry father ordered the disobedient daughter to be crucified. The story supposedly took place in Portugal, but not a single fact has yet been found that would confirm the authenticity of these events.
There are three objects in Loreta's courtyard. To the left of the entrance there is a massive sculpture-fountain “The Resurrection of Christ”:
On the right side of the courtyard is a work by the same author, Michal Jan Brüderle. It is dedicated to the Mother of God and is called “The Ascension of the Virgin Mary”:
In the center of the courtyard is the main relic of Loreta - the Holy House or hut. Take another look at the first photo in this article, which shows the Loretan hut.
Holy house
The development of the Loretan complex began with the Holy House. According to legend, the house in which the Virgin Mary lived in Nazareth, and where she received the good news of the birth of Jesus, was moved by angels in the 13th century to the laurel grove of the Italian town of Loreto to save it from destruction.
In many countries where Catholics predominantly live, they built a semblance of the Italian Loreta. The Czech countess from the Lobkowitz family organized the construction of the Holy Hut near, inviting the architect Giovanni Battisto Orsi to implement his idea. Under the leadership of Orsi, construction began in 1626, continued by Andrea Allio, and the structure was consecrated in 1631.
On the outside, the walls of the Holy House are decorated with sculptures and marble reliefs made by Giovanni Bartolommeo Cometa:
Wall scenes depict the life of the Virgin Mary. They decorated all the walls of the rectangular building. There are through doors leading into the hut. First of all, this is a place of pilgrimage, but the Holy House can also be visited by excursionists.
The Loreto shrine is a silver altar, in a niche of which there is a sculpture of the Virgin and Child:
The small sculpture, 110 cm high, was carved from linden in the 17th century, and the wood became blackened over time by exposure to candles, bringing the image even closer to the Italian sculpture made of cedar.
But, if in Spain you can touch the miraculous image, then access to the Loreto Virgin Mary in Prague is blocked by a silver grille:
The Loretan Virgin Mary is the patroness of the Lobkowitz family. Under the Holy House there is a tomb of representatives of the family, thanks to which Loreta appeared in Prague.
Inside the walls of the Holy Hut are painted with frescoes depicting the life of the Virgin Mary:
The walls also imitate cracks similar to those that formed in the Italian hut during the dangerous hour. There is a well-known story about how a thief entered the Holy House, and at the same moment a lightning strike occurred, attracting the attention of people who rushed to save the shrine. The cracks are located closer to the altar and are clearly visible in the corner of the fresco:
In the Holy House of Prague Loreta, you can sit on a bench opposite the altar and put your thoughts in order...
The chapel, which is on the same line as the Bell Tower of Loreta and the Holy House, was first expanded compared to the other chapels, and in 1734-37. architect Ya.Y. Eichbauer rebuilt it into a church. This is how the Baroque Church of the Nativity of Christ appeared in Loreta, the interior of which is decorated with extraordinary pomp:
The altar of the church is decorated with the painting “Adoration of the Child,” donated by Maria Margarita Waldstein. It was on her initiative and at her expense that the church was built:
The sculptor Matthias Schönherr and the author of those sculptural ensembles that are placed in the courtyard of Loreta, M.Ya., worked on the creation of the department and the interior of the temple. Brüderle.
Several artists painted the walls and ceiling of the church. Among the paintings there are frescoes by the famous Czech artist Vaclav Vavřinec Rainer.
The temple of Loreta is small, but it is so luxuriously decorated... Everything sparkles and shines... Opposite the altar in the choir there is an organ. Notice how many angels decorate the organ, and each of them has their own musical instrument in their hands. The design of the organ continues the main concept of the Church of the Nativity of Christ - the Heavenly Troupe performs a festive melody:
If you come on an excursion to Loreta at the “right” time, you can listen to a mini-concert performed by organists. As a rule, such concerts take place on Saturdays at 15.00.
After visitors have explored the chapels, the Holy House and the church, the tour continues on the second floor of Loreta, where the treasury is located. It is there that the diamond monstrance and many other precious ritual objects are located.
Friends, let me remind you that you can find out about Loreta’s working hours at. I’ll just add the information with the address - Loretánské náměstí 7. But still, the best guideline is a hint on how to get to the complex rather than awareness of exact address. If you follow the routes that I recommend, you will definitely find Loreta and other attractions.
Your euro guide Tatyana