The most guarded place in the Czech Republic. The crown jewels are hidden in the Castle behind a lock with seven keys | iRADIO
The least accessible and most guarded place in the Czech Republic – the coronation chamber in St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle. This is where the crown jewels are kept. The doors can only be unlocked with seven keys, which are kept by leading political and church representatives of the Czech state. After five years, the chamber will reopen on January 16.
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“Its location is above the golden gate, which is also used to enter the Prague Cathedral. And from the outside it is possible to see two windows that lead into this chamber against the background of the well-known mosaic of the Last Judgment,” describes Vladimír Kelnar, chancellor of the Metropolitan Chapter at St. Vitus.
Listen to the next episode of Radiožurnál’s series about the crown jewels.
“Probably nowhere else are seven keyers who had to come together to open one door together. Even with nuclear power plants, it’s not as complicated as the coronation chamber,” adds Kelnar.
The key to the Crown Chamber is held by the president of the republic, the prime minister, the presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the mayor of the capital city of Prague, the archbishop of Prague and the dean of the Metropolitan Chapter. The last time they met in the cathedral was five years ago.
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Seven keyrings then locked the crown jewels back into the crown chamber of St. Vitus Cathedral. The crown, apple and scepter of St. Wenceslas were on display at Prague Castle for eight days.
“They’ve been orphaned in the Crown Chamber, in that closet, for five years. So on January 16th, all key players must be invited. And there is also a ceremony. All the key-keepers open first, then go upstairs, because they have to open it one more time,” explains Petr Kroupa, director of the Heritage Care Department of the Office of the President of the Republic.
“So it’s opened, pulled out, the keymen take a look, sign that it’s so, and leave. Then there is an expert inspection by a restorer who will look at it, and then the crown jewels can be stored in a display case under the supervision of the troops. The army guards them 24 hours a day,” explains Kroupa.
“Soldiers are present in the cathedral and then also in the courtyard. It is probably the most closely guarded treasure in the Czech Republic,” adds Kroupa. It is he and his colleagues who will take down the crown jewels in their cases and place them on the grave of St. Wenceslas.
The crown does not belong to the state
The St. Wenceslas crown is among the four oldest surviving crowns in Europe. It was never the property of the Czech monarchs or the Czech state, because according to the wishes of Charles IV. and bulls of Pope Clement VI. belongs to St. Wenceslas.
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“The sovereign can borrow it. He can borrow it for a coronation or for a great royal celebration, provided, however, that he always returns it to its place by sunset. If this does not happen, he will be excommunicated,” added Vladimír Kelnar.
“None of the people is allowed to violate or act against this letter of our prohibition and will. Whoever dares to try it will fall into the wrath of Almighty God and his holy apostles Peter and Paul,” reads the papal bull of Clement VI. from 1346.
“And basically you can say that this bull is still valid today. When the last presentation of the crown jewels took place five years ago, an excerpt from this bull was read in front of everyone in the St. Wenceslas chapel, where the jewels were transferred,” recalls Kelnar.
For the first time since the creation of Czechoslovakia, jewels were exhibited in 1929. Then only after the Second World War in 1945.
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