Church of Saint John of Nepomuk

The Church of St. John of Nepomuk stands in Prague's Hradčany district, at the corner of U kasáren and Kanovnická streets, roughly 200 metres from Hradčanské náměstí and close to the Nový Svět quarter. Built for the adjoining Ursuline convent, this Baroque church is also known locally as the Military Church.

Who designed the church?

Construction began on 20 October 1720, when the foundation stone was laid. The work was initially led by Prague architect Kryštof Dientzenhofer. After his death in 1722, his son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer took over the project — his very first independent commission as an architect. The church was completed in 1728, and consecrated the following year, shortly after the canonization of John of Nepomuk, by Prague archbishop František Ferdinand von Kuenburg.

What does the interior look like?

The building is a hall church with an octagonal, oval-shaped nave and an unusual reversed orientation compared to typical church layouts. Its vault is covered with frescoes by Václav Vavřinec Reiner, illustrating scenes from the life of St. John of Nepomuk, the saint to whom the church is dedicated. This painted ceiling decoration is considered the most valuable part of the interior.

What happened to the church over the centuries?

The building's history is closely tied to that of the neighbouring Ursuline convent. When Emperor Joseph II dissolved numerous monasteries across the Habsburg monarchy in 1784, the Ursuline order on Hradčany was disbanded as well, and the church lost its original function for decades. It returned to religious use in 1861, becoming an evangelical church serving Prague's military garrison. Since 2001, the building has been on loan to the Czech Army for military chaplaincy, and today it serves as a place of prayer for fallen soldiers and for world peace.

Can visitors go inside today?

Because the church functions as a garrison chapel, its interior can only be visited occasionally or by prior arrangement. This does not stop visitors from experiencing the surrounding area: the quiet Kanovnická street and the church's exterior are accessible at any time, making it a worthwhile stop on a walk through Hradčany, away from the crowds at Hradčanské náměstí.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? At the corner of U kasáren and Kanovnická streets in Hradčany, about 200 metres from Hradčanské náměstí.

Who painted the frescoes inside? Václav Vavřinec Reiner painted the vault frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St. John of Nepomuk.

Who was the architect? Construction was started by Kryštof Dientzenhofer and finished by his son Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer after his father's death in 1722 — it was Kilian's first independent project.

Is this the same church as the pilgrimage church at Zelená hora near Žďár nad Sázavou? No. That is an entirely different building dedicated to the same saint, designed by Jan Santini Aichel rather than the Dientzenhofers.

How long did construction take? Building ran from 1720 to 1728, with consecration following in 1729.