Monastery of the Augustinian Canons in Prostějov

The Monastery of the Augustinian Canons in Prostějov is one of the oldest religious foundations in the town's history, even though nothing of its original Gothic buildings survives today — the monastery fell victim to the Hussite Wars less than three decades after it was founded. Its story is a brief but significant chapter in the medieval history of Prostějov.

Who founded the monastery in Prostějov?

The monastery was established by Petr I of Kravaře, the nobleman who ruled Prostějov at the time. The founding charter is dated 1 November 1391. The new community was dedicated to the Visitation of the Virgin Mary "among the mountains," a name referencing the biblical episode of Mary visiting Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea.

Why Augustinian canons specifically?

The foundation was part of a broader movement known as devotio moderna, or "new piety," which emphasized spreading culture and education, charitable work, and devotion to the Virgin Mary. Augustinian canons were closely associated with exactly this kind of activity at the time, and Petr of Kravaře hoped their presence would raise the town's cultural standing.

What did the canons do in Prostějov?

At its founding, the canonry counted thirteen members, including its head. The Augustinians took charge of the town school and also of the town parish, overseeing the churches of St. Peter and Paul and the Church of the Holy Cross. The monastery therefore served an educational role for the wider community, not just a religious one.

What did the monastery complex look like?

The Gothic monastery and its church were built from stone on the site of a former stronghold. This defensible location was no accident: the building was intended to serve as a shelter for the people of Prostějov in times of danger, a detail that hints at how turbulent the era was.

What happened to the monastery during the Hussite Wars?

The community's peaceful existence did not last long. In 1423, during the Hussite Wars, the monastery and its church were destroyed by Hussite forces. The canons managed to flee and found refuge in nearby Olomouc, but they never returned to Prostějov, and monastic life in the town was never revived in this form.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Augustinian monastery in Prostějov founded? Its founding is documented by a charter dated 1 November 1391, issued by Petr I of Kravaře.

How many canons lived in the monastery? At its founding, the canonry had thirteen members, including its head.

What did the Augustinian canons do in Prostějov? They ran the town school and looked after the parish, including the churches of St. Peter and Paul and the Holy Cross.

Why did the monastery stop existing? It was destroyed in 1423 during the Hussite Wars, and the canons took refuge in Olomouc, from where they never returned to Prostějov.

Where did the monastery stand? The complex was built on the site of a former stronghold, chosen partly so it could also serve as a shelter for townspeople in times of danger.