Prague Castle monastery to undergo extensive reconstruction

St. George's Monastery, located next to St. George's Basilica at the Prague Castle complex, is set to undergo significant reconstruction in the coming years. The project will create a permanent home for the St. Vitus Treasure as well as a cultural and educational center.

The Archbishopric of Prague, which acquired the monastery from the Prague Castle Administration eight years ago, has secured Vatican approval for the project, according to archdiocese spokesperson Jiří Prinz. The reconstruction will be funded by KKCG Real Estate Group, owned by billionaire Karel Komárek.

The monastery, the oldest in Czechia and long in need of renovations, was transferred to the Archbishopric in 2016 with a commitment to repair and open it to the public within five years. However, the monastery has since deteriorated further, despite a contractual penalty agreed upon with then-President Miloš Zeman.

The church has long warned of the monastery's poor condition, worsened by its conversion into barracks in the late 18th century and later into a gallery in the 1970s. Lacking the necessary funds and expertise for the reconstruction, the Archbishopric partnered with KKCG to fully restore the monastery.

"St. George's Monastery is one of our most valuable monuments, but unfortunately its condition is very bad and it is one of the last unrestored buildings in the Castle area," current Czech President Petr Pavel tells Czech News Agency. "I am glad that this situation is being resolved."

After renovations, the monastery will become a permanent home for the St. Vitus Treasure, one of the largest temple collections in Europe, which includes various types of reliquaries as well as paintings and sculptures.

"This collaboration will not only open the extraordinary space of the monastery to the public but also provide a dignified setting for the St. Vitus Treasure, an integral part of our history," says Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner.

St. George's Monastery, a former women's Benedictine monastery, dates back to the early 10th century. It is situated centrally within St. George's Basilica at the Prague Castle complex and has been a significant religious and cultural site throughout Czech history.

It housed artwork from the Czech National Gallery in the second half of the 20th century, but has been closed to the public over the past decade as it awaits reconstruction.