Klášter hybernů, Franciscan monastery in New Town, Prague, Czech Republic

Klášter hybernů is a former Irish Franciscan monastery in Prague's New Town, built in 1641–1654 as an early Baroque structure. Its adjoining Church of the Immaculate Conception, designed by Carlo Lurago from 1653, was deconsecrated in 1806 and rebuilt as a customs house by 1813, giving the complex a classical facade with a portal on massive Doric columns. The monastery building later received regular, restrained Empire-style facades.

The site held a convent of Milanese Benedictines of the Ambrosian rite with the Gothic church of St Ambrose, founded in 1355 by Charles IV and damaged in the Hussite wars. In 1629 Ferdinand II gave the Irish Franciscans permission to settle; they bought up houses and built the monastery in 1641–1654, adding Carl Lurago's Baroque Church of the Immaculate Conception from 1653. Joseph II abolished the house in 1786, and in 1808–1811 it became a customs office.

The monastery library held part of the Šternberk book collection, donated by Count Václav Vojtěch of Šternberk, who wanted it kept open to the public. In 1724 the Hybernians agreed with Prague University that half the holdings, mainly law and medicine books, would go to the university, forming the basis of the renewed Charles University library.

The building is located at Náměstí Republiky in Prague 1 and is easily accessible to visitors. It is worth checking current access conditions since different parts of the structure may have varying uses.

The monastery library absorbed part of the Sternberg book collection, thanks to bequests from Count Václav Vojtěch of Sternberg and his brother Ignác Karel. On 12 June 1724 the Hybernians agreed with Prague University that half the inventory, especially law and medical books, would go to the university, forming the basis of the renewed Charles University library.