Originally founded in 1070-1080 by the Czech King Vratislav II., the Romanesque basilica suffered a fire in the year 1249 and has been rebuilt in Gothic and later in neo-Gothic style. The basilica features an impressive stone mosaic above its entry, and its twin 58 m towers can be seen atop a hill to the south from along the Vltava River in central Prague.

Behind the church is located large park and Vysehrad cemetery, the final resting place of many famous Czechs. In 2003 the church was elevated to basilica by Pope John Paul II.

History is the dominant element thematically of the interior décor; the history of art, Christianity and the Czech lands are all aspects of the decoration. As a piece of art history the church is something of an exhibition of Gothic, art nouveau and even Baroque pieces.