Capuchin Monastery in Hradčany

The foundation stone of the oldest Capuchin monastery in Czechia was laid in 1600. Poverty and simplicity are reflected in the monastery building’s character; the Capuchin architecture eliminates decorative elements, and stylistic changes hardly touch it. In 1944, SS troops seized the building, and a prison was set up there. After the war, the monastery was restored and served its purpose until 1950, when the brothers were forced out by the communist regime and deported to internment camps. After that, the Czechoslovak counter-intelligence agency was housed there. The brothers returned to the monastery in 1990 and, at the same time, resumed the administration of the neighbouring Loreta chapel.