Church of Saint Joseph (Malá Strana)

The Church of St. Joseph sits on a quiet lane called Josefská in Prague's Lesser Town, just steps from Charles Bridge. It's a compact early Baroque convent church, built at the end of the 17th century for a community of Discalced Carmelite nuns - and it still carries the atmosphere of a monastic church, even though the adjoining convent building has long since changed hands.

When was the church built, and who designed it?

Construction ran from 1686 to 1692. The design came from architect Abraham de Parigi, while Johann Ross oversaw the building work on site. The date 1691 is carved into the facade, and the church itself was consecrated in October 1692, then again in 1714. It was built on an oval floor plan topped with a dome - a layout favored by Baroque religious orders, giving the compact interior an unexpectedly airy feel.

Which order built it, and what happened to the convent later?

The founders and first occupants were Discalced Carmelite nuns, invited to Prague in 1655 by Emperor Ferdinand III. They stayed on Josefská until 1782, when - as part of the Josephine church reforms - the convent passed to the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, better known as the English Ladies. They ran a girls' educational institute there until 1919, after which the convent building was sold.

What should visitors look for on the facade and inside?

The facade sculptures are the work of Matěj Václav Jäckel: at the center, above the 1691 date, stands St. Joseph, the church's patron, flanked by St. Teresa of Ávila and St. John of the Cross, the two great reformers of the Carmelite order. Jäckel also carved a figure of the Immaculate Virgin Mary on the building's south side. Inside, the main altar - completed between 1698 and 1700 - holds a Holy Family painting by Petr Brandl from 1702, one of the leading names of Czech Baroque painting. Jäckel additionally supplied sculpted decoration for the interior, including life-size figures of saints and putti. Also worth a look: the Rococo pulpit from 1778, carved by the Carmelite sisters' own woodworkers.

Is the church a protected monument?

Yes. The Church of St. Joseph, together with the former Discalced Carmelite convent complex, is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Church of St. Joseph? On Josefská street in Prague's Lesser Town, right next to Charles Bridge.

When was it built, and in what style? Between 1686 and 1692, in early Baroque style, on an oval floor plan with a dome. Abraham de Parigi designed it; Johann Ross built it.

Which religious order was it built for? Discalced Carmelite nuns, brought to Prague in 1655 by Emperor Ferdinand III.

What's on the main altar? A Holy Family painting by Petr Brandl from 1702, framed by sculpted decoration from Matěj Václav Jäckel.

Who took over the convent after 1782? The English Ladies (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary), who ran a school there until 1919.