When the Emperor Ferdinand I invited the Jesuits to Prague in 1556 to spearhead the Counter-Reformation, they moved into the former monastery of St Clement. In the 17th century the Karolinum merged with the Klementinum and they undertook a building programme which lasted over 150 years. When the Jesuit Order was dissolved and the Jesuits had to leave Prague in 1773, the Clementinum complex was taken over by Prague University and National library. It is the largest complex of buildings in Prague, after the Prague castle, including the Church of St Clemens and the Church of St Salvator. The walls of the baroque fortress enclosed a college, schools, churches, a library, a theatre, an observatory and a printing shop. Concerts are often held in the Mirror Chapel (1724-30).

Location: Klementinum 190, Staré Město t. 221 663 111
Opening hours: May—Oct Mon—Fri 2-7, Sat—Sun 10-7: Mar—Apr, Nov—Dec Mon—Fri 2-6, Sat—Sun 11-7