Church of Saint Norbert (Střešovice)

The Church of Saint Norbert is a small Roman Catholic church in Prague's Střešovice district (Prague 6), built at the end of the 19th century on the initiative of the Premonstratensian monastery at Strahov. It now serves as the local parish church and remains one of the recognizable landmarks in this quiet, villa-lined part of the city.

Why was a church built in Střešovice at all?

Střešovice, once recorded under the older name Třešovice, had belonged to the Strahov Premonstratensian monastery ever since its first documented mention in 1143. By the late 19th century the village was growing quickly, and the small existing chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary could no longer accommodate the expanding population. That shortage of space is what pushed Abbot Zikmund Starý of Strahov to commission a larger, purpose-built church capable of serving the whole developing parish.

When was the church built, and who designed it?

The project was entrusted to architect František Rožánek, who designed the building in the Neo-Renaissance style then common in both religious and secular architecture around Prague. The foundation stone was laid on 7 May 1890, and construction moved quickly enough that the finished church was solemnly consecrated on 12 July 1891 — a span of little more than a year from groundbreaking to consecration, a fast pace by the standards of the time.

Why is the church dedicated to Saint Norbert specifically?

The choice of patron was deliberate rather than arbitrary. Saint Norbert of Xanten founded the Premonstratensian order, to which the Strahov monastery — the project's sponsor — belongs. Naming the new church after him made the link between the building, its emerging parish, and the mother monastery that financed and oversaw the construction explicit. For local residents it also served as a clear reminder of which institution the district's development was tied to over the centuries.

Where exactly does the church stand?

The building stands in the area known as Norbertov, near the junction with Sibeliova Street, right in the middle of Střešovice. The same address — Sibeliova 49/2, 162 00 Praha 6 — is now home to the Roman Catholic parish for which the church remains the principal place of worship. Sitting on slightly elevated ground, the building is visible from the surrounding streets, which are typical of this part of Prague 6: quiet, residential, and built up mostly with villas and single-family houses.

The church's coordinates are 50.091595, 14.3779722 — worth noting if you plan to walk through Střešovice, since the district sits off the main tourist track and is easy to miss without a specific destination in mind.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Church of Saint Norbert in Střešovice? The architect was František Rožánek; the church was built between 1890 and 1891 in the Neo-Renaissance style.

Why is the church named after Saint Norbert? Its founder was the Strahov Premonstratensian monastery, and Saint Norbert of Xanten founded that very order — the dedication reflects that direct sponsorship.

Is it still an active parish church? Yes, the Roman Catholic parish of Prague-Střešovice operates from the same address, Sibeliova 49/2, and the church is still used for regular services.

How do you get there, and what's the surrounding area like? The church stands in the Norbertov area near the junction with Sibeliova Street, in the quiet, villa-filled Prague 6 district — a good spot for a walk away from the crowds of central Prague.