Geotourism Aspects of Building Stone Use (Romanesque Style and the Onset of Gothic) in UNESCO Heritage Sites of the Historic Centre of Prague for Construction and Architectural Purposes

Abstract

In terms of architectural development, Prague is one of the classic examples of the application of individual Western European building styles. For this reason, Prague - Historical Centre was rightly included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1992. This city, the residence of monarchs, has undergone significant development since the early days of its construction. The Romanesque and Gothic style here greatly completes the scenery of this city. The stone beauty of Hradcany with St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge and other historical buildings are among the most visited sights of this city. Tourists can learn more about the historical facts about the construction of these buildings from the guides, but the building stone and its sources are practically not paid attention to. For this reason, the aim of this work is to introduce and link the construction of the Romanesque and Gothic periods with a description of the different types of stone used in their construction and their source areas. The importance of this link will help both architectural research and the development of new forms of tourism.