Monastery of Knights of the Cross with the Red Star, Medieval monastery at Charles Bridge entrance, Prague, Czech Republic

The Monastery of Knights of the Cross with the Red Star is a complex of buildings positioned at the foot of Charles Bridge, combining Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architectural styles. Inside you find multiple chapels, cloisters, and halls decorated with religious artworks and sculptures from different periods.

Construction of the monastery began on 21 May 1252 on the Vltava bank near the Judith Bridge, after the order was confirmed by the pope in 1237 as a hospital brotherhood and moved here from Na Františku. The first church, dedicated to the Holy Spirit, stood closer to the river; part of its portal survives in the basement of the entrance facade. A fire in 1378 led to rebuilding, and the Baroque church of St Francis of Assisi was begun in 1679 to a design by Jean-Baptiste Mathey and consecrated in 1688.

The order's seat is still at the monastery by Charles Bridge, home to the grand master and a formation house for new members. The complex also houses a girls' Catholic secondary school for students with social disadvantages, a care service for Prague's elderly and a home hospice in preparation.

Access to the complex is through the Knights of the Cross Square entrance, where you can explore freely or join a guided tour. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the buildings have multiple levels and stairs to navigate.

The order was confirmed by the pope as a hospital brotherhood in 1237, before the monastery's construction began on 21 May 1252 by the Vltava near the Judith Bridge. Its founder, Agnes of Bohemia, was canonised in 1989.