Church of Our Lady beneath the Chain, Gothic church in Lesser Town, Prague, Czech Republic
Church of Our Lady Beneath the Chain is a house of worship in Prague's Malá Strana with two remaining towers and a Gothic choir section. The building displays Baroque changes made during the 17th century that shaped its current form.
The church began in 1158 as a Romanesque basilica built for the Knights Hospitaller and underwent major reconstruction in 1314 after acquiring properties from the Templars. Its ties to these two medieval military orders shaped its development over centuries.
The church's name comes from a medieval chain that stretched across the Vltava River to collect tolls from boat traffic. This connection to river commerce remains woven into how locals understand the place today.
You can visit during services or by requesting a tour in advance. The best way to reach it is on foot through the narrow streets of Malá Strana, where the area feels quieter and less crowded than nearby tourist zones.
A large painting from 1651 inside shows an unusual subject: Madonna blessing knights in battle rather than a typical religious scene. This artwork merges military history with spiritual blessing in an unconventional way.
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