Novoměstská jezuitská kolej Monastery

Welcome to one of the most important and extensive monuments of Prague's New Town. Stop for a moment, take a breath and hold the space in front of you with one look. You are standing in front of the New Town Jesuit college, which stands in the southeast part of Charles Square. The first impression that radiates from this building is the feeling of monumentality and power. It is a building which, both in its size and the way it dominates the surroundings, tells the story of ambition, faith and architecture of the time when Prague became one of the main centres of the European Baroque. Feel this atmosphere and imagine what this place looked like centuries ago, when the first foundations of this colossal complex began to emerge here.

To understand why this building is so special, we must return in time to the seventeenth century. It all began in the year one thousand six hundred twenty-four, when the first intention was to build the Jesuit college here. This plan was not random, but it was the product of careful planning and obtained the approval of Emperor Ferdinand himself. At that time, the Jesuit Order was one of the most influential organisations in Europe, focusing on education, the dissemination of faith and intellectual development. The Emperor's approval meant that the project would receive the necessary support and legitimacy. However, construction itself did not occur immediately. It must have been several decades before six hundred and fifty-eight actually started to build in the year one thousand. In order to create this vast complex, the area on which 23 older houses were originally built was clarified. These buildings had to be demolished in order to make room for a new, modern and representative construction, which was intended to reflect the importance of both the order and the period monarch.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. Look at the western facade of the building that stretches in front of you. It's a truly stunning sight. If you measured this wall, you would find that its length without counting the church is 200 meters. This incredible size of the track makes the largest Baroque building of the entire Prague New Town. Note the rhythm and regularity of this facade, which carries all the features of the baroque style, namely the pursuit of grandeur and influence on the emotions of the viewer. Several important creators participated in this work. The main architect whose design laid the foundation for this construction was Carlo Lurago. His vision was to create a space that would not only be functional for the needs of study and prayer, but also serve as a visual symbol of power. During the time when the construction was gradually completed up to a year of a thousand seven hundred and two, other masters, such as Martin Reiner, Pavel Ignác Bayer and Jan Josef Wirch, joined the project. Each of them contributed to the building's ultimate, balanced and majestic appearance.

Now let's think about the fate of the people who lived and worked in these walls. The college served its original purpose, i.e. as a centre of education and the seat of Jesuits, for many decades. Imagine the everyday life here, the silence of libraries, the sound of steps in the corridors and deep discussion of philosophy and theology. But everything changed in a thousand seven hundred seventy-three. It was this year that the Jesuit Order was abolished, which meant the end of an era. The building lost its original inhabitants and had to adapt to new proportions and new functions. But the history of this place is full of contrasts. While the first centuries were marked by flourishing and construction, later history also brought tragic moments. If you look at the building today, you see its strength, but in its history, there is also pain. In the year one thousand nine hundred forty-five, in the end of World War II, the building was damaged in bombing Prague with allied planes. It was moments when this historical monument seemed to be irreparably lost, but thanks to subsequent repairs and the care of the heritage of the past, it stands before you today.

If you look at this building again, you might find one fascinating fact that gives the building a world dimension. I have already mentioned its length and importance for Prague, but Novoměstská jezuitská kolej is not only important within our city. If we compare it to similar buildings across Europe, we would find that they are among the absolute top. It is the third largest Jesuit building on the entire European continent. Imagine what it meant in the seventeenth century. To build such a complex required not only huge funds, but also incredible logistics and patience. The fact that 23 houses had to disappear to create it shows us the priority of creating this space. It was basically a new neighborhood within the neighborhood, a city in town that was supposed to affect the minds and hearts of thousands of students and visitors.

So this building is much more than just a pile of stones and layers of plaster. It is a stone that bears the fingerprints of architects like Carlo Lurago, the will of Emperor Ferdinand the second and the fate of thousands of people who have spent their lives here. It is a testament to the Baroque era, to the rise and fall of powerful orders and to the ability of architecture to survive even the hardest trials, such as war and bombing.

Now that you know the story of this monumental building, I suggest you slow down and try to perceive the building as a whole. Note how its large facade is inserted into the area of Charles Square and what contrasts it is surrounded by. Go through her timeline in spirit from the first intention in the year six hundred twenty-four to this time. I hope this short trip to history has helped you better understand the importance of the place you're standing with.

That concludes our stop at the New Town Jesuit College. Before you there is now room for self-reflection and admiration over the size of this baroque work. I invite you to continue your journey and discover other hidden and visible treasures of our beautiful city. I wish you a pleasant walk and many new experiences when exploring Prague monuments. Goodbye.