Abbeys monasteries and convents Prague

Vladislav had this convent built for the Order of the Premonstratensians in 1140, damaged several times by war and fire, and then rebuilt, its current appearance dates back to the Baroque period (17th and 18th centuries). After the dissolution of the religious orders in 1952, the monastery was transformed into a museum of national literature that boasts a magnificent library. This confirms its role as a cultural centre, which it has been since the first years of its creation.

To the east of Josefov, the district around the convent of St. Agnes offers a calm and serene atmosphere and almost village street scenes. We are far from the proud high buildings of the western part of the district. Here, the houses are low and the narrow cobbled streets are sometimes narrow. The cloister is one of the oldest Gothic buildings to have survived previous centuries. It was Anežka Přemyslovna, the sister of King Wenceslas I who became a member of the Order of St Francis of Assisi, who asked for the foundation of this convent of the Poor Clares. Its construction began in 1234, but was not completed until decades later. In 1782, the convent suffered the same fate as many others in Bohemia: it had to close following a decree by Joseph II. The premises of the convents were then converted into warehouses. Since the creation of Czechoslovakia, the convent has housed the collection The Medieval Art of Bohemia and Central Europe (1200-1550). The sobriety of the church and the 14th century Gothic vaults highlight their beauty. It includes works by the master theorist who decorated Karlštejn Castle with his paintings on wood, as well as Slovak, German and Austrian works. Allow at least an hour to fully enjoy not only the collection, but also this architecture that no longer has many competitors in Europe. The concerts are given in the hall next to the church in a purely magnificent Gothic setting.

The convent (břevnovský klášter), in its present form, dates from 1709-1720, the work of Christophe Dientzenhofer. The adjoining cloister houses a room named Maria Theresa, whose ceiling is decorated with a famous fresco by the Bavarian painter Cosma Damien Asam and represents the Miracle of Blessed Vintir, a Benedictine pilgrim. It is one of the best preserved frescoes of the Prague Baroque. The basement of the Sainte-Marguerite church has preserved the original Romanesque crypt.