Church of Saint Charles Borromeo

The Church of Saint Charles Borromeo sits on Vlašská street in Prague's Malá Strana district, right at the foot of Petřín Hill. Modest from the outside but richly decorated within, this late-classicist building has been the spiritual heart of a hospital complex run by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo since the mid-19th century. It is dedicated to Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century cardinal from the powerful Milanese Borromeo family and the patron of the congregation that still operates the adjoining hospital today.

How did a church end up at the foot of Petřín Hill?

The story begins in 1837, when a group of six sisters — Czech, French and German members of a congregation founded in Nancy, Lorraine — arrived in Prague. Six years later, in 1843, the sisters purchased land at the base of Petřín Hill to establish a hospital and convent there. The church itself was designed by architect Vojtěch (Adalbert) Gudera in the late-classicist style. Construction was completed in 1855, and the church was formally consecrated on 4 November of that year.

What does the church look like inside and out?

Inside, the church is a single-nave hall closed by a semicircular apse under a concha vault, topped with a small sanctus tower rising above the roofline. The interior paintings were entrusted to Prague artist Vilém Kandler, who created, among other works, the altar painting of St. Charles. The façade carries sculptures by Václav Levý depicting the congregation's patron saints and founders, including figures of St. Joseph and St. Sebastian. Above the entrance, visitors can still read the Borromeo family motto, "Humilitas" — Latin for "humility" — a reminder of the family's origins in the Duchy of Milan.

How did the church survive the communist era?

The building's history mirrors the turbulent 20th-century story of Czechoslovakia. On 2 September 1962, the communist authorities closed the church and deconsecrated it, stripping it from the religious congregation. It was only after the fall of communism that the building regained its original purpose: on 23 April 1990 it was returned to the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, and restoration work began soon after. The church was reconsecrated on 22 August 1993 and has served as a place of worship ever since, remaining an integral part of the hospital complex.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the church in Malá Strana dedicated to? It is dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, a 16th-century cardinal from the powerful Milanese Borromeo family and the patron of the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo congregation.

Where exactly is the church located? On Vlašská street in Prague's Malá Strana district, at the foot of Petřín Hill, as part of the hospital complex run by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo.

Who designed the building? Architect Vojtěch (Adalbert) Gudera drew up the late-classicist design, realized between 1843 and 1855.

Did the church always serve its religious purpose? No — during the communist period, from 1962 to 1990, it was closed and deconsecrated. It was returned to the congregation and the faithful after the fall of communism, with a formal reconsecration held in 1993.

What stands out inside the church? The paintings by Vilém Kandler, including the altar painting of St. Charles, and the sculptural façade decoration by Václav Levý, honoring the congregation's patron saints and the Borromeo family.