Anenský klášter

Anenský klášter (St. Anne's Convent) is a former Dominican convent complex on Anenské náměstí in Prague's Old Town, today tied to theatre and cultural life rather than religious use. It stands in the heart of the historic district, at Anenské náměstí 211/2, a short walk from the Vltava river.

Who founded the convent by St. Anne's Church?

The site's history goes back to the early 14th century. In 1312, following the dissolution of the Knights Templar, the courtyard and church were bought by the Knights Hospitaller (Knights of St. John). Shortly afterward, the property passed to Dominican nuns who had come from the convent of St. Anne in Újezd, on Prague's Malá Strana side. Among the founders and benefactors of the Old Town convent were King John of Luxembourg and his wife Elizabeth of Bohemia (Eliška Přemyslovna), along with members of the Říčan family, who made donations to the community in 1324, 1325 and 1329.

How did the convent survive the Hussite wars?

During the Hussite wars in Prague, the convent became a refuge for nuns from other religious orders who had been driven out of their own houses amid the religious unrest. The Dominican sisters of St. Anne themselves are said to have avoided the fate of many other Prague monasteries that were destroyed or plundered by Hussite forces. According to tradition, the convent was spared because its abbess was the aunt of Jan Žižka of Trocnov, one of the leading Hussite military commanders - a family connection that reportedly protected the community from attack.

When did the convent stop functioning as a religious house?

The Dominican community continued at St. Anne's for centuries, until the Josephine reforms. In 1782, as part of Emperor Joseph II's policy of dissolving contemplative religious orders deemed of no direct social use, the convent was suppressed. The buildings lost their religious purpose, marking the start of a long period of secular use.

What is housed in the former convent today?

Between 1992 and 1993, the middle wing of the convent complex was reconstructed to serve the needs of the ballet ensemble of the National Theatre (Národní divadlo), which still uses these spaces today. Other cultural organisations have also found a home within the former convent buildings, including the experimental theatre initiative known as Anenské studio, linked to Divadlo Na zábradlí. The complex now combines rehearsal and creative space for performing artists with its medieval monastic architecture.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Anenský klášter located? In Prague's Old Town, on Anenské náměstí, at the address Anenské náměstí 211/2.

Who funded the Dominican convent at St. Anne's Church? Founders and donors included King John of Luxembourg and his wife Elizabeth of Bohemia, as well as members of the Říčan family, who contributed in 1324, 1325 and 1329.

Why did the convent survive the Hussite wars? Tradition holds that its abbess was the aunt of Hussite commander Jan Žižka of Trocnov, which is said to have shielded the community from the destruction suffered by other Prague monasteries.

When was the convent closed? In 1782, as part of the Josephine reforms that dissolved contemplative religious orders across the Habsburg monarchy.

What is the former convent used for today? Since the 1992-1993 reconstruction, part of the complex has been used by the National Theatre's ballet ensemble, and the site also hosts the Anenské studio cultural venue, linked to Divadlo Na zábradlí.