Kostel Panny Marie Andelské / Church of the Virgin Mary Angelic (Prague - Hradcany) - Baroque Architecture on Waymarking.com

Next to the monumental building of Cernin palace and famous Loreto at Loretánské Square in Prague - Hradcany you can find small but interesting Baroque Church of the Virgin Mary Angelic (Kostel Panny Marie Andelské).

The church of the Virgin Mary Angelic is a simple single-aisle religious building situated in the lower part of Loreto Square (Loretánské námestí) in Hradcany. Church is a part of the Capuchine's monastery complex, which is the oldest monastery of the Order of Capuchines in the Czech Republic. The church and the monastery are popular amongst Prague citizens and visitors for their unique Nativity scene from 1780, which includes 43 life size figures. Unknown even today, a member of the order spent 10 years creating it.

The foundation stone of the church was laid on 23rd May 1600 and the construction was completed by 7th July 1601. In line with the Order’s regulations a simple sanctuary had been created here with rectangular aisle and oblong sacrarium. The aisle has square chapels situated at its sides. The monastery was being built at the same time as the church. The complex is connected with the neighbouring Loreto by a corridor bridge. The church was damaged in 1757 by Prussian gunnery during the siege of Prague. In memory of this event the cannonballs were moulded into the outside wall.

The dominant feature of this church and of the whole complex is the small steeple situated on the aisle roof. The steeple has a square ground plan and it is divided by a distinctive cornice into two parts. Above the cornice there are arched windows, covered with sun-blinds. The roof of the tower is pyramidal and crowned with spire and finial. The steeple houses a bell made by bell-founder Mikuláš Löw of Prague in 1714.