On the banks of the Vltava River, a little away from all the city's attractions, stands the Anež Monastery, once a rather influential convent run by the sister of King Wenceslas I. In fact, her loving brother built this monastery for her in the early 13th century, for which he bought the building of an old hospital.
The monastery building was erected in the Gothic style. At the time of the monastery's construction it was new and surprising.
The monastery flourished for several centuries. A room was added to the main building to house the Minorite Brothers. In the crypt of Přemyslović, Anežka herself, her brother and her nephew, Přemysl Otokar II, were laid to rest, though his remains were later moved to St Vitus Cathedral.
In 1556 the Dominicans took possession of the monastery. They disposed of the complex in a peculiar way. The rooms where the nuns had previously lived continued to be used for their intended purpose, while all other buildings, including the Minorite building, were sold. The Clarice nuns were only able to reclaim their convent in 1629. Under Emperor Joseph II, the monastery was finally closed and its grounds were given over to warehouses.
It was only in the middle of the 20th century that the Gothic building in Starom Mesto became interested, was restored and presented to the National Gallery. Now it displays items of medieval art not only from Bohemia, but also from other countries. The entrance to the branch of the museum is on Anežka Street.
The Monastery of St Anežka is considered a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
