A culture and education center is to be created in the renovated St. George Convent at the Prague Castle. The facility will also serve as a permanent repository for the St. Vitus Treasure

The Archbishopric of Prague, which obtained the proprietorship of the St. George Convent in 2016, has secured the Vatican's consent to renovate this important heritage site built in the 10th century. The new design of the former female Benedictine monastery is presently being created by the KKCG Real Estate Group, owned by entrepreneur and patron of the arts Karel Komárek, in cooperation with the administration of the Archbishopric of Prague. A major part of the venture will be the placement of the St. Vitus Treasure, among the most valuable items of Czech cultural heritage, on permanent display in the renovated complex. In addition, the St. George Convent will be home to a new culture and education center that will provide an international dimension and serve as guardian of the priceless collection of artifacts. The center will be operated by a new company established jointly by the Church and the KKCG Real Estate Group.

The Archbishopric of Prague regained the proprietorship of the oldest Czech monastery in December 2016 as part of a property settlement with the Prague Castle. The monastery was drastically altered by being converted to army barracks at the end of the 18th century and then by being reconstructed into an art gallery in the 1970s. As a result, the facility was, regrettably, in a state of considerable disrepair when returned to the Archbishopric of Prague, despite being a highly valuable part of the Prague Castle complex. Due to a lack of the necessary financial resources, expertise, and experience, the Archbishopric of Prague has decided to join forces with a strong partner that not only possesses experience in the construction sector and the domain of art, but also holds a keen interest in developing the Czech Republic's cultural heritage.

"The St. George Convent is a site of fundamental importance because it provides a link to the beginnings of Christianity in the Czech Lands. For that reason, its renovation is an important step on the path toward preserving our cultural and spiritual heritage. I am therefore highly pleased that the Vatican has granted its permission for this unique partnership that will open to the public the extraordinary setting of the monastery and its cultural and spiritual ambience, and will provide a dignified repository for the St. Vitus Treasure, which is an indispensable part of Czech history," emphasized Mons. Jan Graubner, Archbishop of Prague and Primate of Czechia.

"This project has a much deeper meaning to us than simply renovating a historical monument. Our ambition is to create a new culture and education center that will serve both domestic and international visitors. We want to make a contribution to the efforts to interlink our national cultural heritage with the needs of modern society. We greatly value the opportunity to contribute to the restoration of such an important part of the Prague Castle complex," commented Karel Komárek, KKCG Group Founder, on the project.

History of St. George Convent

The St. George Convent owes its creation to Mlada, daughter of Boleslav, who personally travelled to Rome to obtain permission for its construction. The convent served as home to a Benedictine order of women. Persons linked to the facility's history include Agnes of Bohemia, and the convent was an important spiritual center during the reign of Charles IV. The convent was closed in 1782 by a decree issued by Emperor Joseph II. Subsequently, the entire complex was used as army barracks. In 1976, the building was remodeled to hold a valuable exhibition of ancient Czech artifacts under the management of the Prague National Gallery. Due to a state of disrepair, the complex was closed in 2012, and the exhibits were relocated. The Archbishopric of Prague obtained the proprietorship of the St. George Convent in 2016.