Through these gates of Prague Castle, future monarchs entered during the coronation or wedding ceremony. Given the state importance of these events, the best architects, sculptors, and artists were enlisted to work on the arch.
Petr Parler created the design of the gate, presenting it as a triple arch executed in the Gothic style. A mosaic was chosen as the decoration. The craftsmen were, of course, invited from Venice, which is famous for its glass and the masterpieces made from it. They worked for almost a whole year, using about a million tiny pieces of glass and matching them to one another by color. Art historians later counted 33 different shades!
As a result of very long and painstaking work, a true picture illustrating the "Last Judgment" emerged. In the center is Jesus, who carries it out, with angels around him; below are the patrons of the Czech lands, and beneath them are Charles IV and his wife. On the sides are the souls of the dead: on the right, the saved, and on the left, the sinners heading to hell. This mosaic is the only one in the Czech Republic.
As you approach the gate, it is worth paying attention to the grille installed in the openings of the arch. It is decorated with small wrought-iron illustrations from the lives of ordinary mortals: how they harvest crops, carry water, cook food, etc. But what is surprising is that beneath each such picture there is a zodiac sign symbol. It turns out that religion and astrology in the Czech Republic can quite peacefully coexist without causing any controversy.
