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St Cyril and St Methodius Cathedral
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St Cyril and St Methodius Cathedral

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St Cyril and St Methodius Cathedral
4.5
1,399
#11 of 1,466 things to do in Prague
Churches & Cathedrals
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Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
This museum tells the story of brave Czech paratroopers who killed SS-Obergrupenführer Reinhard Heydrich in the Operation Anthropoid. Jan Kubiš and Josef Gabčík escaped to this church and the crypt under the church together with five more paratroopers and 20 days later they died here during fight against 700 Nazi soldiers.
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< 1 hour
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The area
Neighborhood: Nove Mesto (New Town)
Nearly 700 hundred meters long, Wenceslas Square represents the most frequent and buzzing crossroads of the city. The National Museum in the upper part of the square watches over your spending spree in countless shops and retail stores lining the entire square, which ends at Na Příkopě, the most famous shopping street. When tired or broke, you can explore the city's underpasses, which can take you to the Old Town or to the courtyards of art nouveau houses with secret gems of greenery, white benches and rose bushes that provide unexpected peace in the midst of the city. Be sure to pay a visit to the traditional cafés, classic Czech pubs, cinemas and theaters. National Theater near the river has a lot to offer to foreigners. Go to the river bank and enjoy live music and drinks while watching a sunset behind Prague Castle.
How to get there
  • Charles' Square • 2 min walk
  • national Ave • 8 min walk
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See what other travelers are saying
  • TravelerTrecker
    741 contributions
    Orthodox church with Baroque architecture! Impressive historical landmark!
    This church is a must see in Prague. It is off the beaten path. No tours, no crowds. Entrance ifs free! The Church is beautiful and very interesting because of two aspects: 1. Its exterior is a classical Baroque style; the interior is Orthodox. The contrast is impressive and unique! 2. As others describe, the crypt is a very important historical site. Seven paratroopers, heroes of the second world war, resisted a Nazi siege here. They did not survive; they did not surrender. The history of this event is very well described in the small museum outside the crypt. Pay attention to the door; the door is made of iron and it has a symbolic value; it reminds you the fight and the weapons the heroes used to resist the German attack. It is very easy to find it. You may walk from the old city center to the south through the river promenade. It is one block from the dancing house.
    Written December 11, 2022
  • PATRICK
    North Lanarkshire, United Kingdom19 contributions
    Markies travel
    Very SERENE place to visit with lots of information regarding the tragic end of the paratroopers,if you have never seen any of the film's , operation anthropoid,or the man with the iron heart I would strongly recommend to watch before you visit,then a follow up visit to the LIDICE memorial ,easy to get there bus number 300 from the same bus station that you get transport to airport on metro green line and if you really fancy a beer after the visit walk into bustenhrad about 30 minute walk where there is a traditional Czech pub you can also catch the 300 from the village back to bus station and metro green line regards pat.tom.martin &David from Glasgow
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 8, 2022
  • Gordon Y
    30 contributions
    Respectful dedication to those that sacrificed their lives fighting tyranny
    I was in a small group of former Royal Marines Commandos who made this visit our first port of call upon arriving in Prague. We were all fully aware of Operation Anthropoid and felt strongly about paying our respects to all who perished here. The informative displays are well presented and the air of solemnity that is within the church and crypt is tangible. We were fortunate, in a selfish way, that there were not many other tourists around and we had and took time to absorb the atmosphere and reflect on the actions that occurred within these walls. I suspect that in a busy tourist season with guided tours you may not have time or peace to fully experience any moments of reflection. That said, it is definitely a venue that deserves a visit if you can.
    Written February 5, 2020
These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
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Polisgirl
Polis, Cyprus611 contributions
Good if you are interested in WW2 history
Jul 2021
We visited this Church to go to the crypt museum associated with the Heydrich assassination. It was really interesting. It is free but there is the opportunity to leave a destination. It doesn't take long to go around the information and exhibits, perhaps around 20 minutes.
Written July 26, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
RJN612
Pottsville, PA420 contributions
It's History is It's Significance
May 2022
The church itself is beautiful inside and very unassuming from the outside. It's significance to me is its role in Operation Anthropoid. Unfortunately the crypt was closed but we did visit the memorial outside, both the one for the Heydrich plotters and the one in memory of those executed because of the plot. It is a tribute to their bravery.
Written June 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Noel O
Edinburgh, UK57 contributions
Very interesting for a dark moment in Czech history
Jul 2022
Really interesting small museum and entrance into the crypt where history was unfortunately made. Shame the lady behind the info desk was a bit rude when I asked how to enter the crypt as the big shutter looked more like an exhibit rather than an entrance door. Maybe she's fed up of tourists and should consider a career change.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Amy H
Manchester, UK572 contributions
Historic Place to visit
Nov 2022 • Couples
This is a really interesting little museum/historic place to visit.
Really well arranged and gives you the true insight into what happened.. if you like to visit venues to do with the Second World War then this is a must see.
Written November 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wenovo
Morris County, NJ2,089 contributions
Operation Anthropoid
Oct 2019
This beautiful church is forever tied to the atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis on the Czechoslovak nation and the heroes that bravely defended it. During WWII.

The paratroopers that assassinated Heydrich - "the butcher of Prague" as he was called, were offered refuge in this church. They hid here until they were betrayed by one of their own. They were systematically murdered in a siege on the church, trying to survive in the crypt. They all died.

The crypt is now a small museum to honor their memory, their heroic act of patriotism.
Their tragic story was depicted in a fascinating movie - Operation Anthropoid.

Hitler's reaction to the killing of Heydrich was swift. The retaliation was brutal.
The small town of Lidice, not far from Prague was chosen and the town's population, including children, brutally massacred. The town was leveled to the ground.

The church is about half way between the National theater and Vysehrad.
A scenic walk by the river will get you there, turning left to walk up the hill - Resslova street, the church is on the right.
Written September 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jibblerg
Gaywood, UK111 contributions
Watch the film "Operation Daybreak" to make this a must see
Nov 2012 • Couples
In 1942 Reynhard Heydich (The Nazi overseeing most of Czechoslovakia at the time, nicknamed The Hangman of Prague.) Was assassinated by Czech paratroopers in northern Prague. The fleeing paratroopers were helped by the Czech resistance and eventually with the help of a Bishop took refuge in Ss. Cyril & Methodius Cathedral. After sustained revenge on the Prague inhabitants from the Nazis, the paratroopers were betrayed resulting in over 700 German soldiers being deployed to apprehend the assassins. The Cathedral itself is fascinating however just below at street level is a small museum and you can even stand in the very Crypt the brave paratroopers were finally cornered - the ventilation shaft seen from the main road still has the bullet marks and patriotic Czechs place flowers daily at the scene to commemorate the events of 1942. (entry to the Museum is about £3.00 and worth every bit of it)
Watch the 1975 film "Operation Daybreak" before you go and it's an even better experience.
Written November 22, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wenovo
Morris County, NJ2,089 contributions
Two Heroes of the World War II are memorialized here... Their actions brutally revenged by the Nazis
Sep 2014 • Couples
This church is just a little out of the way from the main tourist attractions, but not difficult to find. As all churches in Prague are worth visiting, this one holds a grim place in the Czechoslovak history.
Two paratroopers assassinated the German Reich protector Heydrich during the Protectorat years not far from the church, as he was riding in an open top car across the Jiraskuv bridge. They managed to escape and hide for a while in the small crypt in the church. They were hunted down eventually, but fought the Nazis valiantly. They were killed and are memorialized in the crypt, that is now a small museum.
The assassination did not go unpunished and was met with a brutal revenge against the Czech nation. The furious Hitler originally wanted to murder thousands of Czechs in Prague randomly as a revenge, but was supposedly talked out off it, as it was anticipated that it would cause an international outrage. Who knows if it would have.
However, what is known as a fact from history, Hitler was forced to choose a different course off action. One small town in the czech countryside, now the famous Lidice, was selected and the Nazis brutally killed the villagers, men, women and children. When they were done the whole village was gone, leveled to the ground. The people of Lidice together with the two paratroopers paid the highest price.
Today Lidice is no longer a town, but a beautiful memorial to all the victims. The children are remembered with a very touching monument and a rose garden . The rose garden was planted after the war ended with rose bushes donated from all over the world in sympathy for the victims. The roses filled the land were their blood was spilled and their homes once stood.
In the spring this year the world will remember the 70 years anniversary of the end of World War II.
Lets not let history repeat itself.

P.S. I wanted to mention Lidice in this review , as the story of the paratroopers and the small town's destiny are forever connected.
Written March 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
dedicatedtraveller
Bishop's Stortford, Herts, England5,937 contributions
Very moving and humbling... such courage and sacrifice
Oct 2017 • Couples
While we were in the crypt a service was being held in the church and we could hear the singing... it certainly added to our visit.

Very interesting and so moving, the whole story of 'Operation Anthrapoid' - exceptionally well explained and shown in the room before entering the crypt.. chilling the 'colour' charts for eyes and skin the nazis (I never use a capital for such appalling people) used to determine if you were the right type or not.

Incredible bravery shown by the young soldiers, and heartbreaking to think they were betrayed by one of their own.. the consequences of this, ie the deaths of thousands of totally innocent civilians was very upsetting.

The crypt itself was a fitting memorial to the soldiers... moving and very dignified and the entrance door to the crypt striking in design.. very well thought out and done.

Recommend everyone visiting Prague to go and see this memorial.... makes you realise how lucky we really are.
Written October 27, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Mary S
Edinburgh, UK7 contributions
Memorial to Operation Anthropoid
Jul 2014 • Friends
The cathedral is within easy walking distance of the National Theatre and contains, in the crypt where they died, a museum dedicated to the Special Operations Executive agents who assassinated Reinhard Heydrich. Heydrich was in charge of SS operations in Bohemia and was feared by both civilians and fellow SS leaders. He was assassinated as he made his way to Prague castle. The museum documents his career, brutality and the reason behind the assassination plot. It tells the story of the agents, including those who betrayed the others. The main room leads into the crypt which a very moving memorial to the dead agents. The museum will be of especial interest to those who have seen the movies made about the event. While there is a charge, it is very reasonable. I went with a group of friends, some Czech from Prague, who had never visited the museum and all were moved.
Written September 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wenovo
Morris County, NJ2,089 contributions
The Church That is Forever Tied to the WWII history...
Sep 2017 • Couples
The code name was Operation Anthropoid. For the planned assassination of Heydrich.
The paratroopers that assassinated Heydrich were offered refuge in the church and spent time in hiding there. Until they were betrayed by one of their own.

Hitler's revenge was brutal. The paratroopers were systematically killed in a siege on the church, while trying to survive in the crypt.
The movie Operation Anthropoid is worth watching.

The small town of Lidice was chosen by Hitler in retaliation and the town's population brutally massacred. The town was leveled, only few survived .
After all these years it is still chilling to visit the crypt.

This time around we visited after seeing the movie. To be honest, we only stopped by again, because we were passing by after visiting the Dancing house. Visiting once is probably enough.

There is no entrance fee...
Written October 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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St Cyril and St Methodius Cathedral, Prague

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St Cyril and St Methodius Cathedral is open:
  • Tue - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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