National Gallery Prague , Prague, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Convent of St Agnes of Bohemia is a Gothic convent complex in the Old Town of Prague, and today it is a site of the National Gallery Prague, home to its collection of medieval art. It is one of the oldest Gothic buildings in the city, and it matters for its link to Agnes, a Bohemian princess who chose a life of poverty and care over a royal marriage.

The story behind it

The convent dates from the 13th century and was founded by Agnes of Bohemia, a member of the ruling Přemyslid family. She brought in the Poor Clares, the women's order that follows the Franciscan ideal, and the complex also included a Franciscan friary and a hospital. Agnes herself lived here as a nun until her death in 1282, and she was later canonised.

That hospital tradition is the thread that links the place to the story of the plague. When the Black Death swept across Europe in the 1340s, there was no cure, and medicine of the time focused on comfort, quarantine and trying to limit the spread. Religious houses and hospitals like this one were places where the sick and the frightened looked for help. Real antibiotics only arrived in the 20th century, which puts the medieval struggle in perspective.

What to look for

• The Gothic architecture of the complex, with its pointed arches and ribbed vaulting, which shows how early the style reached Prague.
• The quiet cloister and courtyards, a calm contrast to the busy streets of the Old Town just beyond the walls.
• The medieval panel paintings and carved wooden sculptures inside, which belong to the National Gallery's collection of Bohemian and Central European art.
• The church of St Francis, part of the same complex, whose weathered stonework shows the age of the place.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about an hour if you plan to see the collection, and a little less if you only want to look around the outside and the courtyards.
• Check current opening hours and ticket arrangements before you go, as they can change with the season and with exhibitions.
• The convent sits close to the Vltava river and the Jewish Quarter, so it combines well with a longer walk through the northern Old Town.
• Morning is usually the calmest time to visit, when the cloister feels most peaceful.

See it on a quest

The Plague Doctor of Prague passes the convent as one stop of a longer walking route through the area. As you reach each place, the app tells you about it, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. The plague theme suits the setting well. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.