St. George's Convent

St. George's Monastery in Prague is the oldest women's monastery on Czech territory, a building complex adjoining Prague Castle in the Hradčany district, at the heart of the historic Czech capital.

When was the monastery founded?

The Benedictine convent attached to the already-existing Basilica of St. George was founded in 973 by Duke Boleslaus II the Pious. Its first abbess was Mlada, the duke's sister, who had spent time in Rome and took the religious name Maria upon taking office. The basilica itself, around which the convent grew, is even older — it was founded by Duke Vratislaus I, who died in 921. Together, the two buildings form one of the oldest surviving religious complexes in Prague.

How did the monastery's architecture change over the centuries?

The original Romanesque structure gained its distinctive towers between 1145 and 1151, built under Abbess Berta. Centuries later, around 1515, a Renaissance portal was added, carved with a relief of St. George slaying the dragon. A fire in 1541, which devastated large parts of Malá Strana and Hradčany, also damaged the convent buildings and forced their reconstruction. The most extensive rebuilding came in the Baroque period, between 1657 and 1680, giving the complex much of its present appearance.

What happened after the monastery was dissolved in 1782?

Emperor Joseph II ordered the convent closed in 1782 as part of his church reforms. The buildings were then converted into military barracks, a role they kept for well over a century. Only in the 20th century, following a major renovation carried out between 1969 and 1975 under architect František Cubr, did the site gain a new purpose as an exhibition space. For decades afterward it housed part of the National Gallery's collection of old Bohemian art, spanning the medieval period through the Baroque, and between 2008 and 2012 it displayed the gallery's 19th-century art collection.

Can visitors tour the monastery today?

Since March 2016 the convent building has belonged to the Church and is now administered by the Prague Archbishopric. Because of its poor structural condition, it is currently closed to visitors, and its renovation and reopening remain at the planning stage. The adjoining Basilica of St. George — a separate, older building within the same complex — is a different story: it stays open as part of a Prague Castle visit and is also used for early-music concerts.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is St. George's Monastery located? Within the grounds of Prague Castle, in the Hradčany district, next to the Basilica of St. George.

Are the monastery and the Basilica of St. George the same building? No. The basilica is a separate, older church (predating 921), to which the convent was later added. The basilica is open to visitors today; the monastery building is not.

Who founded the monastery? Duke Boleslaus II the Pious, in 973. His sister Mlada became its first abbess, taking the name Maria.

Does the National Gallery still occupy the monastery? No. The National Gallery's collections were moved out, and since 2016 the building has belonged to the Prague Archbishopric.