Klášter obutých karmelitánů na Starém Městě Monastery

Klášter obutých karmelitánů na Starém Městě in Prague is a historical monument dating back to the 17th century. It is located at St. Havel's church and served as a seat of the order of the carmelitans. This monastery is important not only by history but also by an architectural character, which represents a Baroque style.

The creation of the monastery is linked to the history of St. Havel's Church. Originally there was an older monastery of magdalenites, which died over time. After 1627 Emperor Ferdinand II assigned a church with a rectory and school of the order of the carmelitans. The capacity of the buildings was not enough, which led to efforts to acquire other properties. These efforts were made as Emperor Leopold I., when sales contracts were signed in 1664, and then the monastery was built here by expanding existing buildings. Giovanni Domenico Orsi had a crucial role in the design of the construction project. The foundation stone of the new building was laid in 1671 and sanctified by Archbishop Matthew Ferdinand Sobk of Bílenberk. The building of the monastery lasted until 1704 when it was completed.

The architecture of the monastery is presented as a Baroque work with a distinctive reconstruction of St. Havel's church. Construction work included the expansion of existing buildings and a new construction which lasted from 1671 to 1704. Giovanni Domenico Orsi was the designer of the construction project, later Pavel Ignác Bayer and probably Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel, which is attributed to the characteristic facade of the church.

The property of the monastery has undergone several changes. After the foundation in 1664 he became the property of the order of the shoes of Carmelitans, which lasted until 1786 when the monastery was abolished as part of the church reforms of emperor Joseph II. After the cancellation, the buildings went into a religious fund and served various purposes, such as shop or lace factory. The First Czech Real Estate was located here in 1849-1851. During the second half of the 20th century, the building became the seat of the Institute of History of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and later the Soviet Cultural Centre.

The interesting thing about the monastery is that some perimeter walls and portals have been preserved from the original buildings. These elements resemble the Baroque period of the peak of the construction. The monastery has undergone many changes, but its historical significance and architectural elements have been preserved.

Today, the monastery of shoe carmelitans is the seat of the theatre in Knights and a branch of the United Nations Children's Fund. Visiting this place, you can appreciate its historical value and architectural character. The monastery is not only a monument to the past but also a part of the life of Prague today, which reminds of the rich history of the city and its cultural importance.

This monument carries traces of time and changes that passed through its walls. It's a testament to historical events and the architectural art of the past. Visit the monastery of shoe carmelitans in Old Town and appreciate its important history and beauty that it brings to every visitor.