Capuchin monastery in New Town

The Capuchin monastery in New Town is a small monastic complex on Na Poříčí street in Prague's Nové Město (Prague 1), tracing its origins back to the early 17th century. Today it comprises the Baroque Church of St. Joseph, a former hospice building and a small courtyard with sculptures — the surviving remnant of a much larger monastic foundation that has otherwise disappeared from this part of the New Town.

How was the monastery founded?

The foundation was initiated in 1630 at the instigation of Emperor Ferdinand II, with Gerhard of Questenberg, owner of the Jaroměřice estate, acting as the main donor. The Capuchin convent was formally established in 1633. Construction of the monastery church, dedicated to St. Joseph, began in 1636 and continued until 1653, while work on the residential monastic house itself started in 1638. The result was a complex typical of Prague's early Baroque, combining a parish-facing church with the friars' living quarters.

What happened to the monastery after it was dissolved?

The community existed for roughly a century and a half before the monastery was dissolved in 1782. Once stripped of their original purpose, the monastic buildings gradually fell into disrepair. Of the entire former complex, only the Church of St. Joseph has survived on its original site — the rest of the monastic buildings were lost over time.

When did the Capuchins return to New Town?

The Capuchin presence at St. Joseph's was re-established only in 1992, when the friars returned to the church after more than two centuries. A small new monastery was subsequently built on the plot behind the church and was consecrated by Bishop Jiří Paďour in 2008. This modest modern building, far smaller than the original Baroque foundation, forms the monastery as it stands today.

What has survived from the original monastic complex?

The surviving historic fabric consists of the Church of St. Joseph, the former hospice building, and a small courtyard (atrium) adjoining the church. The courtyard holds sandstone sculptures of St. Jude Thaddeus and two angels. The monastery grounds are separated from the square by a wall with recessed chapels containing Baroque statues of St. John of Nepomuk and St. Francis Seraphicus. Together, the church, hospice and enclosed sculpture courtyard give visitors a sense of the original foundation, even though most of the Baroque-era monastic buildings themselves no longer exist.

Where exactly is the monastery located?

The complex stands on Na Poříčí street (historical address: Na Poříčí 2111/1a) in the Prague 1 – Nové Město district, close to the boundary between the New Town and the Old Town, near Náměstí Republiky.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded the Capuchin monastery in New Town? The foundation was initiated in 1630 by Emperor Ferdinand II, with Gerhard of Questenberg, owner of the Jaroměřice estate, as the principal donor.

Is the monastery building original from the 17th century? The original Baroque Church of St. Joseph, built between 1636 and 1653, still stands on its original site. The monastic house where the friars currently live, however, is a new building consecrated in 2008, erected after the Capuchins returned in 1992.

What else can be seen on site besides the church? The courtyard beside the church features sandstone sculptures of St. Jude Thaddeus and two angels, and the surrounding wall holds niches with Baroque statues of St. John of Nepomuk and St. Francis Seraphicus.

Is the monastery still an active religious community? Yes — the Capuchin community has resided at St. Joseph's again since 1992, and a new monastery building behind the church was completed and consecrated in 2008.