convent of St Agnes of Bohemia

The Convent of St. Agnes of Bohemia in Prague is a Gothic monastic complex in the northern part of the Old Town, one of the oldest and most significant religious monuments in the Czech capital. Today it houses a branch of the National Gallery Prague with a permanent collection of medieval art.

Who founded the convent and when?

The convent was founded in the early 1230s by Agnes of Bohemia (c. 1211–1282), daughter of King Přemysl Otakar I and sister of King Wenceslas I. It was built to house two religious communities side by side: the Poor Clares and the Friars Minor (Franciscans). This made it the first double monastery of its kind north of the Alps. Agnes herself entered the Order of Poor Clares shortly after founding it and became its abbess.

What role did the convent play under the Přemyslid dynasty?

The complex, also known as the Convent Na Františku, was built for more than religious life alone — it was intended as a dynastic burial site for the Přemyslid family. Royal coronations took place within its walls, and members of the ruling family were interred in its crypt. Agnes of Bohemia herself was buried here after her death.

What happened to the convent after the Hussite Wars?

The convent's period of prominence ended with the Hussite Wars, when the Poor Clares abandoned the site and the buildings began to fall into disrepair. The final blow came at the end of the 18th century, when Emperor Joseph II dissolved the convent as part of his Josephine reforms. Nearly a century of neglect and decay followed, during which the buildings were put to various secular uses, including housing for Prague's poor.

When was the convent restored?

Restoration and conservation of the monastic complex took decades and was only completed in 1986. The work preserved and put on display the medieval architecture of both former convents — the Poor Clares and the Friars Minor — and the buildings became part of the National Gallery Prague.

What can visitors see at the Convent of St. Agnes today?

The complex now functions as a museum. Visitors can tour the historic architecture of the former double convent independently, including a lapidarium with fragments of architectural stone sculpture. On the upper floor of the convent building, a permanent exhibition titled "Medieval Art in Bohemia and Central Europe" presents more than two hundred works of painting, sculpture, and decorative art from the period.

Where exactly is the convent located?

The complex stands in the northern part of Prague's Old Town, near the Vltava riverbank, in the area historically known as Na Františku.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded the Convent of St. Agnes? Agnes of Bohemia, daughter of Přemysl Otakar I and sister of Wenceslas I, in the early 1230s.

Which religious orders lived at the convent? The Poor Clares and the Friars Minor (Franciscans) — the first double monastery of this kind north of the Alps.

Why did the convent decline? The Poor Clares left during the Hussite Wars, and the convent was later dissolved by Emperor Joseph II in the 18th century, leading to a long period of decay.

What is housed in the convent today? A branch of the National Gallery Prague with a permanent exhibition of medieval art, alongside the chance to explore the complex's historic architecture.

When was the reconstruction of the convent completed? The restoration of the monastic complex was completed in 1986.