Discover the oldest Gothic complex in Prague, the Monastery of St. Agnes of Bohemia, and the story of the royal princess who voluntarily chose poverty and a life in a monastery filled with prayer and charity, which she built with the support of her brother, the Czech King Wenceslas I.
Learn the fascinating story and fate of the royal princess, a woman living in the 13th century, a woman of great wisdom, a woman with a vision, who rejected a marriage proposal from one of the most powerful men of Europe at that time to become the bride of Christ, and created something that endures to the present day and is held in such reverence by the people of Prague and the Czech Republic that it has endured to this day.
On the way to the Agnes Monastery we will discover secluded romantic streets of the old town of Prague, which most tourists do not reach.
While walking and exploring the grounds of the Agnes Monastery you will briefly learn about its development and interesting facts related to its history and current form.
What will you learn and what will I show you?
- When and how was the St. Agnes Monastery founded? And why it became a milestone in Prague architecture?
- What was the fate of its founder, Saint Agnes of Bohemia, who, as a royal princess, did not marry any significant secular nobleman, heir to the throne or monarch, but became the “bride of Christ”, a woman devoted to spiritual service and helping others, a nun and the founder of many monasteries?
- How is it possible that Saint Agnes of Bohemia, together with her brother Wenceslas I, founded a male order, the only order founded on Czech territory, but the female order that she wanted to found had not yet been approved and consecrated by the Holy See?
- When was Saint Agnes canonized? And what does this have to do with the Velvet Revolution in 1989?
- What does the Agnes Monastery have to do with the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Europe that still holds services?
- What orders and congregations have resided and resided in the premises of the Agnes Monastery from its founding to the present day?
- How many churches are part of the Agnes Monastery complex? In which is the burial place of Saint Agnes' brother, King Wenceslas I, and in which of his wife Kunhuta? And where is the body of Saint Agnes buried? And what are the research and mysteries surrounding it?
We will also walk through part of the monastery gardens. We will also visit the exhibition of medieval art from the collections of the Czech National Gallery, which is located in the monastery.
And finally, we will have a small snack in a famous local café, which is located on the monastery grounds.
Of course, I will tell you not only that, but also something else. Come and take a walk, explore the premises of one of the older monasteries in Prague and learn something and experience something!
Duration: 3 hours
