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Rajhrad

Provost Church of St Peter and Paul

Submitter: Benedictine monastery in Rajhrad - the Abbot Antonín Primus

Construction of the provost church is connected with the big reconstruction of the premises. At the latest till the spring of 1721, Santini elaborated the project of a new building. Santini suggested building the new church on wooden piles and a grating as well as he had done it before in Plasy. That way he eliminated the bad conditions in the wet ground. The construction took place quite quickly on the frequent personal supervision of the architect who was completing the pilgrimage premises in Zdar that time. After Santini's death, the Zdar Abbot Vejmluva also supported the exact observance of his design. Nevertheless, several radical changes took place, including the motive of the main ceiling frescoes. In spite of technically very complicated laying of the foundations, the whole western façade leaned in the year 1728 and had to be fastened down by means of a robust built-on supporting wall. In addition, the building was damaged by an earthquake twice in the 18^th century. The ground plan of the church itself is split into three "cells" with an intricate vault closure above each of them. Rhythmical pulsating of the space and modelling of the light intensity gave each part of the church a different quality and was able to catch the visitor's eye in the central axis towards the high altar at the same time.