One of the oldest monuments in Prague and a national treasure, St Agnes’ Convent is also a branch of the National Gallery. It is situated close to the Vltava River but public access is Via Anezka was founded in 1233 by the sister of King Vaclav (Wenceslas) I, Anenca (Agnes) of Bohemia. She introduced the Order of the Poor Clares (the female branch of the Franciscan Order) into Bohemia and became the abbess of the newly built convent in 1235. The medieval complex of buildings, consisting of two churches, several chapels, a cloister, the convent and a Minorite monastery was completed by the end of the 14th century.
During the Hussite Revolution the convent was deserted; the Dominicans occupied it again from 1556 to 1626 after which the Poor Clares returned. In 1782 the convent was dissolved. It was later abandoned, allowed to fall into ruin but in the late 19th century efforts were made to restore the neglected buildings, skilfully incorporating the surviving elements of the medieval structure. In particular the Chapel of St Saviour has been superbly restored and is an important example of the Bohemian Early Gothic style. During the reconstruction the burial places of members of the Pfemyslid dynasty were unearthed, including the tombs of King Wenceslas I and Agnes of Bohemia; the tombs and artefacts found during the archaeological research are displayed in St Saviour’s Chapel and the quadrangle of the Minorite monastery. The former chapel of St Francis has been converted into a concert and lecture hall.
The cloister now houses the Museum of Applied Art including a display of glass from the kingdom of Bohemia, and a collection of paintings from the National Gallery. The gallery is devoted to Czech painting from the 18th and 19th century, mainly landscapes and portraits. The work of the leading artist of the period, Josef Manes, is well represented; other artists include Karel Postl (1769-1818), Antonin Machek (1775-1844), Josef Navratil (1796-1865) and Julius Mafak (1832-1899). Books and posters are on sale by the entrance, although they are predominantly in Czech. If you are now suffering from museum fatigue, this museum has its own restaurant, U AneZky, serving snacks as well as main meals. Open: Daily 10.00 to 18.00 hrs. Closed: Monday.