Church of Saint Lawrence in Malá Strana, Hellichova

The Church of St. Lawrence sits on the quiet Hellichova street at the foot of Petřín Hill, a short walk from the busier tourist routes of Malá Strana. It is one of the oldest church buildings in this part of Prague, yet also one of the least visible — it has not functioned as a parish church for well over two centuries, and today it's more likely to host a cello recital than a Mass.

How old is this building, really?

The core of the church is believed to date from the mid-12th century, when a Romanesque structure was raised over an older burial ground. At that time it served Nebovidy, a small independent settlement under the authority of a Benedictine monastery, which was only absorbed into the growing Malá Strana district in the mid-14th century. It's worth not confusing this building with the much more famous Baroque Church of St. Lawrence standing at the top of Petřín Hill next to the lookout tower — the two share a patron saint but are entirely separate buildings, divided only by the hill between them.

What changed during the Gothic rebuilding?

Around 1378 the modest Romanesque church was reworked in Gothic style. A rib-vaulted vestibule was added on the south side, and the chancel was raised and given a new vault. The sacristy north of the chancel still shows its Gothic fabric today, while the entrance portal and the sacristy's own vault date from a further round of alterations in the 16th century, typical of Prague churches of that period.

Why did it stop being a church?

In 1784, Joseph II's reforms closed down a large number of Prague's churches and monasteries deemed surplus to requirements, and this building was among them. It was converted into residential housing, its medieval structure hidden for two centuries behind plastered walls and apartment floors. The building was declared a cultural monument in 1964, a status that eventually paved the way for its rescue.

When did the church come back to life?

A major reconstruction between 1985 and 1991 brought the neglected building closer to its presumed original appearance and turned it into a concert and exhibition space. In 1995 a small Baroque chamber organ was installed, built from surviving Baroque parts in the workshop of organ builder Bedřich Semrád and reconstructed by Vladimír Šlajch. Since then the church has been used mainly for chamber concerts, including performances held as part of the Prague Spring (Pražské jaro) festival, one of Central Europe's leading classical music festivals.

Can visitors go inside?

The church has no regular opening hours as a sightseeing attraction — the practical way to see the interior is to attend a concert. That's arguably part of its appeal: a small, intimate medieval space with good acoustics feels entirely different from Prague's larger churches packed with tour groups. Checking the current concert schedule, particularly around the Prague Spring festival, is the surest way to experience it firsthand.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same Church of St. Lawrence that stands on top of Petřín Hill? No. This is a separate, considerably older building at the foot of the hill on Hellichova street. The Baroque church with the lookout tower on the summit of Petřín is a different structure dedicated to the same saint.

Are religious services still held here? No. The church lost its parish function in 1784 and today operates as a concert and exhibition venue.

What can visitors expect to hear during a concert? Chamber music performances, often featuring the small Baroque organ installed in 1995, including concerts organized as part of the Prague Spring festival.

How old is the building? Its oldest parts likely date to the mid-12th century, though its present appearance mainly reflects the Gothic rebuilding around 1378 and later 16th-century alterations.