Minoritsky Klaster (Minorite Monastery), Cesky Krumlov

The Minorite Monastery is a hidden gem tucked away from the bustling tourist routes behind the townhouses within the Lateran castle grounds. It stands as the second-largest historical complex in Český Krumlov, following the castle area.

The Twin Convent of Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Saint Frantiska was established in 1350 by Kateřina from Rožmberk and her four sons. The first Minorites arrived in 1357, followed by the Poor Clares in 1361. Over the centuries, these monasteries evolved into significant centers of religious life, culture, education, and pilgrimage.

During the Josephine reforms in 1782, the convent of the Poor Clares was disbanded, and in 1950, exactly 600 years after its foundation, the Minorite monastery met the same fate.

At the heart of the connected Minorite and Poor Clares monasteries lies the Church of the Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Twin Monastery, in its current form, stands as one of the most architecturally preserved monastic complexes in the Czech Republic.

Today, the Monastery welcomes visitors year-round and offers intriguing tours. Now owned by the Knights of the Cross with the Red Star, it provides a captivating glimpse into the Chapel of St. Wolfgang. Here, rare Gothic frescoes were uncovered beneath layers of mold, fungus, and plaster. These frescoes have been meticulously restored, complementing the existing baroque fragments on the chapel's walls and the baroque ceiling depicting the life of St. Wolfgang. Within the monastery, you can also admire statues such as the Black Madonna in the Chapel of Our Lady of Einsiedelnská, the Krumlov Madonna, and the Třeboň Madonna.