Klášter augustiniánů, Augustinian monastery in Malá Strana, Prague, Czech Republic
The Augustinian monastery by the Church of St Thomas is the oldest Augustinian house in the Czech Republic, founded in 1285. Its present appearance comes from the Baroque rebuilding begun in 1728 to designs by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, which followed Renaissance repairs of 1551 and the library built in 1603. Part of the complex now operates as a luxury hotel.
Founded in 1285 by King Wenceslaus II for the salvation of his father Přemysl Otakar II's soul, the monastery was built at an older church belonging to the Břevnov Benedictines. The new three-nave church was consecrated only in 1379. In 1420 Hussite sympathizers drove out the monks and burned the complex; after their mid-15th-century return, Renaissance repairs followed in 1551 and a library was built in 1603. Swedish troops under General Königsmark looted the library during the Thirty Years' War.
The monastery's church of St Thomas serves as the parish church for all of Malá Strana and also hosts pastoral care in English and Spanish. Each April the community organises the Augustinian Week, with lectures on St Augustine and the order plus an accompanying programme; language courses are also held here.
The monastery stands in Malá Strana, a short walk from Charles Bridge and the Lesser Town Square, with Prague Castle uphill beyond. Part of the complex now operates as the Augustine hotel, so the cloisters and church are shared between guests, the small Augustinian community and parish visitors. The church of St Thomas serves as the parish church for all of Malá Strana, with pastoral care also in English and Spanish.
The library founded in 1603 was looted by General Königsmark's Swedish troops during the Thirty Years' War, and the books were carried off to Sweden. The monastery also commissioned paintings from Peter Paul Rubens for its church in 1637.
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