klášter augustiniánek na Novém Městě v Praze Monastery
The Augustinian monastery, located in New Town in Prague, is a historical monument with a rich past. This monastery complex, originally Gothic and later baroque, is connected to the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria. Its importance is not only in the building character but also in the history dating back to the 14th century. Today the site is protected as a monument zone and serves as a place for the Psychiatric Clinic 1st LF UK and VFN.
The founding of the Augustinian monastery dates back to 1355-1367 when Emperor Karel IV. founded it as a result of his victory in the Battle of San Felice in 1332. The monastery was part of a wider effort by Charles IV, who supported the development of art, education and architecture, turning Prague into a Central European cultural centre. After the Hussite fire in 1420, the monastery went through several stages of renewal, with its present baroque shape formed in 1718-1730. The Baroque church was built in 1737-1741 by Kilian Ignác Dientzenhofer replacing the Gothic building with a preserved tower.
The monastery is an architect of Baroque style. The original Gothic complex was restored after the Hussite fire and later rebuilt to Baroque style in 1718-1730. The Baroque church, built according to the design by Kilian Ignác Dientzenhofer, replaced the Gothic building with a preserved eight-sided tower, known as the Prague Minaret. This tower is one of the dominant elements of the urban horizon. In 1844, the new building of the mental institution was built on the premises and in the years 1847-1848 the director's villa was built.
The history of the monastery is recorded by changes to its owners and functions. In 1784, the monastery was abolished as part of the church reforms of Josef II, which led to the building becoming a military educational institution. In 1789 Prague was located in Prague for the care of quiet and calm mental persons, which in 1862 went under the administration of the Prague village. After the closure of the disease in 1929, the site was converted into a Psychiatric Clinic.
Key events that shaped the fate of the monastery include its foundation by Charles IV, the Hussite fire in 1420 and the Baroque reconstruction in 1718-1730. These events affected not only architecture, but also the function of the building over the centuries.
Today the monastery of Augustinian women in New Town is open to the public and serves as a place to relax and visit. The area contains a publicly accessible Kateřín garden, which offers a quiet environment in the middle of the city. The monastery is an important historical and architectural monument area, attracting visitors with its rich history and significant building features.
The monastery of the Augustinian in New Town is therefore not only a monument to the architectural character, but also an important historical place that shows changes in Czech society and culture. His visit offers a view of the rich past and an opportunity for peaceful disconnection in the centre of Prague.
Then and now
Drag the slider to compare how the landmark may have looked when it was built with the view today.
The historical appearance on the left is an AI-generated visualisation and serves as inspiration only.
Historical milestones
- 1355
- The establishment of the monastery by Charles IV.
- 1420
- Hussite burning
- 1784
- Cancellation of the monastery in the framework of the church reforms of Joseph II.
Architectural development
The original Gothic monastery was restored after the Hussite fire and later rebuilt into Baroque style in 1718-1730. The Baroque church was built in 1737-1741 by Kilian Ignác Dientzenhofer replacing the Gothic building with a preserved tower. In 1844, the new building of the mental institution was built on the premises and in the years 1847-1848 the director's villa was built.
Historical events
- 1355-1367
- The establishment of the monastery by Charles IV.
- 1420
- Hussite burning
- 1784
- Cancellation of the monastery in the framework of the church reforms of Joseph II.
Owners
- 1355-1367
- 1784
- 1789-1822
- 1862
- 1929
Points of interest
- It was founded by Emperor Karel IV. in 1355-1367 as a result of victory in the battle of San Felice. - Originally a Gothic complex was rebuilt in 1718-1730 in Baroque style. - There is a tower known as Prague Minaret. - After the cancellation in 1784, the building served as a military educational institution and later a medical facility. Today, the area serves as a Psychiatric Clinic and offers the public a Kateřín Garden.
Guide
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This text was created by artificial intelligence and has not been editorially reviewed. It may contain inaccuracies.
The convent of the Augustinian sisters at the church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria belongs to the oldest buildings of Prague's New Town. The originally Gothic complex, later rebuilt in the Baroque style, was founded in the year 1355 for the order of Augustinian sisters. Today it is a protected historical monument. Behind its walls lies a very peaceful Kateřinská garden, and it is home to the Psychiatric Clinic of the First Faculty of Medicine of Charles University and the General University Hospital.
The founding of the convent had an interesting reason. It commemorated the victory of Charles the Fourth in the Battle of San Felice in the year 1332, which took place on the feast day of Saint Catherine. Therefore, the convent and the church were dedicated to her. In the year 1420, the Hussites burned down the convent. In the sixteenth century, it was restored by the male order of shod Augustinians.
The present three-winged Baroque building was created in the years 1718 to 1730 according to a design by František Maxmilián Kaňka. Some sources, however, attribute it to Kryštof Dientzenhofer. The new Baroque church was designed by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer and was built in the years 1737 to 1741 in place of its Gothic predecessor. Only its tall, slender tower was preserved from the original. At the bottom it has the shape of a prism and at the top it transforms into an eight-sided form. It is visible from far away and because of its appearance it is called the Prague minaret.
In the year 1784, the convent along with the church was abolished as part of the church reforms of Emperor Joseph the Second. From the year 1789 to 1822, a military educational institute operated here. At the same time, Prague's hospital for deaf and calm mentally ill patients was established here. In the year 1862, it was taken over by the Prague municipality. At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it cared for approximately three hundred residents. It was definitively closed in the year 1929 and its residents moved to the newly built Masarykov homes.
The church was meanwhile repaired in the year 1841 and consecrated again. In the year 1844, a new building of the mentally ill institute was added to the complex. In the years 1847 and 1848, a late classicist director's villa grew here according to a project by Václav Kulhánek.
The psychiatric institute in the New Building was not abolished. From it emerged today's clinic, which Praguers still call Kateřinky. It has been headed by a number of prominent doctors. Among them were Jan Theobald Held, Benjamin Čumpelík, Karel Kuffner with Antonín Heveroch, Zdeněk Mysliveček, Vladimír Vondráček and from the year 1999 Jiří Raboch.
Tips for visitors
The best time to visit the Augustinian monastery is autumn or spring, when the view of the surrounding Prague is particularly impressive and the vegetation of the monastery park offers beautiful colors. This time of year also brings a softer attendance, which allows better exploration of the complex.
We recommend the use of public transport, which can be easily connected to the monastery.
When visiting the monastery, wear a suitable suit because the interior can be cold. We also recommend a handbag or headphones for listening to audio lines, which is often available in several languages, and an magnifying magnifying magnifying magnifier for a detailed view of works of art.
Photography of the monastery offers many possibilities. The best light is usually in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not directly above your head. The interiors of the chapel and the garden of the monastery are particularly impressive.
In the vicinity of the monastery there is a square of the Republic with its historical buildings and an artistic statue. It is an ideal place for a walk or a short rest before another part of your day in Prague.
Frequently asked questions
Can the monument be visited?
Religious buildings are usually open mainly during services; at other times a visit is normally arranged with the parish or the operator. We have not verified specific times.
Where is the monument?
Location: Kateřinská 468/30, Nové Město, Praha, Hlavní město Praha. The map on this page shows the exact spot.
Why is the monument protected?
It is listed in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic as a cultural monument (register no. 40092/1-1217).
For kids
Imagine Prague in the 14th century, when it was full of the sounds of cheerful footsteps and loud laughter of people. There, in the middle of New Town, a little chapel began to be built, which was supposed to be home to the religious sisters of the Augustinian. This monastery was like a new growing tree, its roots dug deep into the soil and the tribe rose up to heaven.
Businesses nearby
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Events nearby
Zdroj akcí: otevřená data měst a obcí ČR (Národní katalog otevřených dat) a kalendář akcí Národního památkového ústavu.
Nearby
🏰 Historic sites (1635)
- Museum Antonín Dvořáka 0.0 km Ke Charles 462 / 20 + 420 224 918 013
- Arnešt Lederer 0.1 km
- Robert Vogel 0.1 km
- Marta Lederero 0.1 km
- Ludmila Vogel 0.1 km
- Marie Ann Guth 0.1 km
- Otto Vogel 0.1 km
- Olga Töpfejá 0.1 km
- Arthur Töpfer 0.1 km
- Oskar Töpfer 0.1 km
- Gertrude Töpfer 0.1 km
- Fany Klominková 0.1 km
- Karel Töpfer 0.1 km
- Max Töpfer 0.1 km
- Armin Gipsz 0.1 km
- Regina Gipszu 0.1 km
- Tree of the soul and nerves in the Kateřín Garden in Praze 0.1 km
- Hrdliček Museum of Man 0.2 km Wine 7 + 420 724 039 933
- Albert Einstein 0.2 km
- Mudr. 0.2 km
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- Caviar 0.1 km Na battlefield 1989 / 8 + 420 608 714 582
- Švejk Guesthouse U Kalicha 0.1 km Na battlefield 12
- Café with Sí 0.1 km Ke Charles 12
- Macu Picchu Restaurant 0.1 km + 420774178181
- Restaurant U Emma Destino 0.2 km Kateřinská 7 + 420 224 918 425
- Rendez Vous 0.2 km
- At the junction "Uterus" 0.2 km
- Miss sophis 0.2 km
- Bistro URO 0.2 km + 420 775 508 533
- LegendA 0.2 km
- U Barley 0.2 km
- Café Purkine 0.2 km Sokolská 31
- Biwon 0.2 km
- Ball lightning 0.2 km + 420 721 420 859
- Honest Taste 0.2 km Leger 33
- Mlynastic pelmene 0.2 km Ječná 522 / 40
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- Everyday rest & wine 0.2 km
- LegendA 0.2 km
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- NABO Apartments 0.1 km Na Field 22
- Hostel Advantage 0.1 km Sokolská 11
- Anyday Apartments 0.1 km Sokolská 9
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- Hotel DaVinci Wenceslas Square 0.2 km Sokolská 25
- Hotel Residence Select 0.2 km Sokolská 34 + 420 734 729 646
- Ibis Praha Wenceslas Square 0.2 km Kateřinská 36
- Hotel Saint George 0.2 km Tyršova 2
- Hotel S42 0.2 km Sokolská 42 / 1797
- Sophie's Hostels 0.2 km
- Hotel Brixen 0.2 km Sokolská 44
- Hotel Tivoli 0.2 km Sokolská 1794 / 48 + 420 296 114 401
- Miss Sophie's New Town 0.2 km Melon 3 + 420 210 011 210
- Hostel Centre 0.2 km Sokolská 29
- Miss Sophie's New Town & Wellness 0.2 km Melon 3
- Jecna Holiday Apartments 0.2 km Ječná 32a
- Novotel Praha Wenceslas Square 0.2 km Kateřinská 38
- Hotel Sunrise 0.2 km Ke Charles 19 + 420 222 944114
- Ankorax 0.2 km Kateřinská 42
- Hotel 16 U Saint Kateřiny 0.2 km Katerinská 16 + 420 224 920 636
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- Ski & Surf 0.4 km
- 11 Teamsports 0.4 km
- Physical unity Sokol Prague 0.4 km Rye 1438 / 42 + 420 221 965 311
- Husky 0.6 km RX669 / 1 + 420 222 220 950
- Free Time Centre Botič 0.7 km
- BEL Sport 0.7 km
- Rossignol 0.8 km + 420 733 626 382
- Sport hall Folimanka 0.8 km
- Festka 0.8 km Jana Masaryk 281 / 28 + 420 775 264 543
- Richmond Cycles 0.8 km American 293 / 12 + 420 777 410 029
- Kola- Skies- Win 0.9 km Vyšehrad 7 + 420 777 307 205
- A3 SPORT 0.9 km + 420 222 240 690
- Oasis City 0.9 km Wenceslas Square 36
- HUDYsport 1.0 km Silesská 8
- Cyclosecs 1.0 km Jaromírova 50
- Harbour Rashínov waterfront 1.0 km
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🥾 Hiking and nature (479)
- Mind Maze 0.3 km
- Čelakov sady 0.6 km
- Čelakov sady 0.6 km
- New Town Hall 0.7 km
- National Museum tower 0.7 km
- Zítka sets 0.9 km
- Dancing House viewpoint 0.9 km
- Stulc sets 1.1 km
- Karlach sets 1.1 km
- Slavín 1.1 km
- Vyšehrad 1.2 km
- Zvon # 9801 1.2 km
- grotta 1.2 km
- Czech Puppet 1.3 km
- Dienzenhofer sets 1.3 km
- Thrill Park 1.4 km
- Na Tape 1.4 km
- Na Tape 1.5 km
- Celetna 1.5 km
- Celetna 1.6 km
Accommodation nearby
Trips and activities nearby
Guided tours, tickets and activities nearby from GetYourGuide
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Search tours and activities →Themed route
1. Monastery of Augustinian in New Town in Prague (Memorial) - Explore the architecture and spiritual history of this important monastery complex. 2. Monastic courtyard (Area) - Take a walk around this quiet space and enjoy the atmosphere of the historic inner court. 3. Monastic Exposure (Exhibition) - Know the life of monks and the history of the place through a tour of selected historical artifacts.
Seasonal recommendations
Spring: In spring, the monastery surroundings are awakening to life and gardens near New Town are beginning to bloom. The soft sunlight beautifully highlights the details of historical architecture and creates a calm, optimistic atmosphere. For the visit it is ideal to choose the morning hours when the air is still fresh. We recommend you take lighter layered clothes to prepare you for the variable spring weather.
Summer: The summer season brings intense sun and lively, lively atmosphere to Prague's streets. Due to the main summer season there are the most visitors around the monastery, so it is best to arrive immediately after opening to enjoy peace. Get ready with light summer clothes and don't forget enough fluids. The shady parts of the monastery area offer a pleasant shelter from the heat.
Autumn: Autumn in this part of the city is characterized by golden trees and a slight shade of morning fog, which gives the monument a nostalgic and noble touch. The atmosphere is very quiet and meditative at this time. It is advisable to prepare a warmer sweater or coat because it can be colder in narrow alleys. The ideal time for the tour is clear afternoon hours, when the leaf colours best shine.
Winter: Winter turns the vicinity of the monastery into a quiet and slightly mysterious space with a short day and cold air. In advent time and during freezing days there is a sense of isolation from the urban rush. Due to limited daylight we recommend planning a visit around noon hours. It is necessary to warm winter clothes, including gloves and hats, and count on the fact that during this period the opening time may be shorter.
Visualizations and artistic views
The visualisations are generated by artificial intelligence and serve as inspiration.
Photos from the area
Real photos taken near the monument
Zdroj a licence jsou uvedeny u každého snímku.
Atmosphere of the place
This atmospheric visualisation of the place and period was generated by artificial intelligence. It is not real footage of the location.
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Sources and literature
Photos: VitVit / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons. The author and licence also appear when you hover over the image.
Faktickým podkladem tohoto textu byl článek na Wikipedii, jehož autory jsou přispěvatelé Wikipedie. Článek je dostupný pod licencí CC BY-SA 4.0.
Location on the map
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