Church of Our Lady Victorious is one of the oldest early Baroque sacred buildings in Prague. It was built between 1611 and 1613 by Lutherans as the Church of the Holy Trinity. After the Battle of White Mountain, it became the property of the Discalced Carmelites in 1624 and gradually acquired the form it has retained to this day — with rich Baroque decoration, a monastery, and a significant interior. Although the church went through a period of decline, it experienced renewal in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the return of the Carmelites and modern restorations. Today, it is not only an architectural gem but also an important place of pilgrimage and encounter.
The church was built partly in the Renaissance style and partly in the Baroque style by German-speaking Lutherans between 1611 and 1613. It is designed as a Roman-type basilica. On 21 July 1613, the church was consecrated to the Holy Spirit. The name of the architect is not recorded, but it is presumed to have been Giovanni Maria Filippy, the court architect to Emperor Rudolf II, of Italian origin. The presbytery with the altar was originally located on the eastern side, where the front of the church is now. The church was entered through side entrances from the north and from the west.
After the Battle of the White Mountain in 1620, which resulted in the victory of the imperial pro-Catholic forces in the Czech lands, Emperor Ferdinand II entrusted the church to the Discalced Carmelites.
On 8 September 1624, the church was consecrated to Our Lady Victorious as a thanksgiving for the victory at the Battle of the White Mountain. St. Anthony of Padua became an additional patron of the church.
The church’s present appearance, with its front facing the main street, dates back to the reconstruction of 1636–1644. A large monastery for the Discalced Carmelites (today the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports) was added on the south side. A tower was built in 1669.
The Discalced Carmelites furnished the church with altars made by the best available artists of the 17th and 18th centuries. The appearance of the interior in the 18th century followed a unified and carefully conceived concept, presumably created by the architect Ferdinand Schor. The statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague was permanently placed in the church at this time.
By decree of Emperor Joseph II, the monastery was dissolved in 1784. The Carmelites were forced to leave, and the parish of the Church of Our Lady under the Chain was transferred here. The administration of the church was entrusted by the archbishopric to the Knights of Malta.
At the request of Prague Archbishop Miloslav Vlk, the Discalced Carmelites returned to the church after two hundred years, on 2 July 1993. Since that time, this pilgrimage site, loved by people of many nationalities, has come to life again. The Carmelite Sisters of the Child Jesus assist the Carmelites in caring for the gracious statue and the church. The pilgrimage church is under the parish administration of the Church of St. Thomas in Malá Strana.
The new altar, pulpit, cross, and remodelled baptismal font by sculptor Otmar Oliva were installed in the church in October 2015. The altar was consecrated on 18 October 2015 on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the birth of Saint Teresa of Jesus, the foundress of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites.
The main altar was restored to its original colour scheme, which combines gold and copper leaf. This distinctive combination, unique in its scope within Central Europe, dates back to the altar’s creation in the first quarter of the 18th century. You can read more about it here.
The small elevated square in front of the church underwent a subtle transformation that brought significant improvements for visitors. The stone terrace was carefully dismantled and restored. Archaeologists excavated and documented the ground beneath it, and the newly created space now houses public restrooms and a visitor centre. The restoration also included repairs to the Baroque staircases and upgrades to the entire public area. Accessibility to the church and to the adjacent elementary school has been improved for people with limited mobility. The renovation was carried out based on a design by architect Josef Pleskot.
