Church of the Virgin Mary (Prague Castle)

The Church of the Virgin Mary at Prague Castle refers to several ecclesiastical structures dedicated to the Virgin Mary within the Prague Castle complex. Due to the long and complex history of the Castle, and the religious shifts that have occurred, it is important to distinguish which structure is being referred to. Most commonly, the term alludes to either the earlier Romanesque churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary, remnants of which may still exist beneath later structures, or potentially a reference (albeit less precise) to St. Vitus Cathedral itself, as the Cathedral is formally dedicated to St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas, and St. Adalbert. Given that St. Vitus Cathedral is the primary religious building at Prague Castle and honors numerous saints, any reference simply to "Church of the Virgin Mary" requires clarification to avoid ambiguity. Without further context, the exact building or era being referenced is unclear. Historically, early iterations of churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary played a significant role in the early development of Prague Castle as a center of power and religious significance.