The Church of St. Francis of Assisi or the Church of St. Francis of Seraphim (Kostel svatého Františka z Assisi, Kostel svatého Františka Serafinského), also called the Church of the Crusaders (kostel U křižovníków) is a basilica in Prague, having an early Baroque appearance and magnificent interior decoration, distinguished by the fresco "The Last Judgment" in the monumental dome.
The church is the main order church of the Czech Order of Knights of the Cross with a red star.
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is part of and acts as the parish and monastery order church of the adjacent Crusaders monastery with a red star (Klášter křižovníków), in the walls of which today, among other things, is Charles Bridge Museum (Muzeum Karlova mostu).
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is located in the historical center of Prague. The facade of the church faces the Crusaders Square (Křižovnické náměstí), which is near the famous Charles Bridge (Karlów most), spanning the Vltava River.
The first church on this site was founded in the 13th century, when St. Agnes of Bohemia founded the St. Francis Hospital in 1233, and over time the Franciscan brotherhood was transformed into the first Czech Order of Knights of the Cross with a Red Star and moved to the Juditin Bridge, which was the predecessor of the Charles Bridge. The brother of Agnes of Bohemia, the Czech king Wenceslaus I, transferred to the Crusader Order the right to collect tolls on the bridge in 1253, as well as the duty to protect and maintain the Judith Bridge. These rights and obligations ceased with the completion of the Charles Bridge in the 14th century.
The present church, which has an early Baroque appearance, was built in 1679-1685, partly on the foundation of the original Gothic church, laid in 1252. The construction was carried out under the supervision of Italian masters Domenico Canevalle and Gaudenzio Casanova, designed by French architect Jean-Baptiste Matei. The consecration of the basilica was performed in 1688 by Archbishop Johann Friedrich von Waldstein of Prague in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
The exterior of the church stands out with a massive dome, which contrasts sharply with the architecture of the main facade, decorated with sculptures in niches and in the upper part.
At the southeastern corner of the church there is a 17th-century pillar with a sculpture of St. Wenceslaus.
The interior of the church of St. Francis of Assisi is richly decorated and has rare paintings by Wenzel Lorenz Rainer decorating the interior: paintings of the four Evangelists are on the dome between the moldings created by Tomasso Soldatti; on the arch above the altar you can see paintings of the Assumption of the Virgin, the battle of Constantine and the Worship of the Ark of the Covenant on the Temple Mount.
The interior of the dome is completely covered with Reiner's fresco "The Last Judgment".
Johann Christoph Lishka was another major artist of the church. His angels and allegorical figures are depicted on the ceiling of the presbytery, frescoes in the aisles of the Holy Trinity and St. John the Baptist, as well as frescoes above the entrance to the church. He also painted figures of the four basic virtues (prudence, moderation, justice and fortitude), the Worship of the Magi and the Worship of Shepherds. The painting of Lishka with the stigmata of St. Francis is on the main altar, designed by Joseph Dobner.
Concerts of organ religious music are regularly held within the walls of the church. The organ of the church is the second oldest organ in Prague and dates back to 1702; it has been restored in its original Baroque form.
The remains of the Gothic church are located in the underground chapel (in the so-called lower church), decorated with stalactites in the grotto. There are also tombstones of some famous personalities of the order.
The lower church is accessible from the corridor of the monastery and is also connected by three small barred holes in the floor with the upper church.
Practical information
The church is open to visitors usually before Mass. Individual longer visits are possible by agreement.
Website of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi: krizovnici.eu .
The address of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi: Křižovnické náměstí 3, 110 00 Praha 1 - Staré Město.
Coordinates of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi: 50°05'11.0"N 14°24'51.0"E (50.086389, 14.414167).
All accommodation facilities in Prague (hotels, apartments, guest houses, etc.), including in the historical center of the city and more remotely from it, can be viewed and booked here 
