Visiting Prague Loreta Church & Chapel with melodic bell ringing
The Loreta Church at Hradcany is a Baroque complex that has been a place of pilgrimage since 1626, when it was founded by a Bohemian noblewoman, Kateřina of Lobkowicz.
The Loreta church has a tower with a clock that plays a pretty tune every hour. The song is actually played by 27 differently-tuned bells and the sound is incredible. When these were installed at the end of the 17th century, they were deemed a true wonder!
Loreta is one of the most beautiful churches in Prague and it’s looked after by the monks of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, whose monastery with the Church of Our Lady of the Angels is next to the Loreta.
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My favourite things about Loreta Church
I always walk by the Loreta Church when I visit the New World Area or the upper part of Hradcany and I love listening to the bell ringing. I think I visited the Loreta for the first time when I was a child as part of the school trip, but I’ve enjoyed my recent visit as if it was for the first time. It was during winter and there was only about five or six people visiting at the time, so it was very quiet and peaceful.
I really like the quietness of the St. Mary Chapel within the inner courtyard that looks like a cave. You can stay there for a while, light up a candle and just be…
The Loretta Treasury upstairs has beautiful crosses and religious ornaments. The St. Starosta Statue in corner Chapel is definitely the most intriguing religious statue you will ever see! Scroll down to find out more about the legend, as it’s so fascinating.
I also like listening to the bell ringing on the whole hour from the inner courtyard. The sound is so much stronger than when you are outside the Loreta. If you happen to visit on Sundays you can also hear the live version performed by the monks.
The honey from the bees from the Loreta Bell tower is a definitely one of the most unique souvenir gifts you can get in Prague and such a great find. I talked to the lady who runs the gift shop who also told me about the famous cold syrup made by the monks.
What you need to know before you visit Loreta
Tickets don’t include audio guide or guided tours, as these are charged extra. The audio guide is 150 CZK and as far as I could tell the guided tours had to be booked in advance.
I visited without the audio guide and found there was plenty of information next to each painting or displayed item – both in Czech and English language.
Based on my experience, I think it’s also worth knowing that Loreta is the perfect place to visit on a very summer hot day (as it’s nice and cool inside), but you do need to wrap up warm when you visit on a cold day (everything is outdoors or without noticeable heating).
What to buy at the gift shop – my local tip!
The gift shop is very small but it’s packed with beautiful things, gifts and religious items.
But, one thing that you probably won’t expect is that you can buy a local honey, that’s from bee hives placed in the Loreta tower! I think, that makes it a perfect gift for anyone who loves honey. The bees probably get a lot of polen from the nearby Czernin Garden and also the Prague Castle Moat and Gardens under the Castle as these are the closest green places.
Another great gift is the slightly mysterious herbal syrup made to a old recipe developed by the monks during the Rudolf II time in 17th Century, which is perfect for colds, tiredness and generally feeling under the weather.
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Practical Information for visiting Prague Loreta
- Location: Loretánské náměstí 7/100, 118 00 Praha 1 – Hradčany
- Opening Times: Daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Tickets: Adults: 230 CZK, Students (with valid student ID): 180 CZK, Family (2 adults + 2 children): 550 CZK
Best time to visit Loreta
The best time to visit Loreta is just before the whole hour, so that you can hear the bell chiming inside the little courtyard.
The Loreta complex is open all year round, but I have to say, having just visited in the middle of winter, I’d probably not recommend it, unless you are wrapped up super warm.
I visited in early December and whilst I was practically the only person there, by the time I walked around slowly half of the complex I was really cold. The cloisters are open to the courtyard garden and whilst upstairs is ‘indoors’ the rooms didn’t seems to be heated.
I guess if you visit in summer, it will be a very pleasant as it will be nice and cool inside, so that’s worth remembering.
Loreta Church History
The Loreta Church in Prague Castle is a Baroque complex that has been a place of pilgrimage since 1626, when it was endowed by a Bohemian noblewoman, Kateřina of Lobkowicz.
The whole complex was re-developed during the first half of the 18th century by the famous Dienzenhofer family of architects.
Kryštof Dienzenhofer began the two-phase reconstruction of the church and designed the western facade of the entire complex, which, after his death in 1722, was completed with minor modifications by his son Kilián Ignác.
Kryštof’s stepson J. J. Aichbauer completed the final reconstruction of the church in 1735, which was financed (along with most of the interior furnishings) by Marie Markéta Countess Waldstein, née Czernínová of Chudenice. The consecration took place on June 7, 1737, but the interior work continued until the end of 1738.
Loreta Bell Ringing
The Loreta church has a tower with a clock that plays a pretty tune every hour. The tune is actually played by 27 differently-tuned bells. When these were installed at the end of the 17th century, there were deemed a true wonder!
The Loreta Bells were donated by the wealthy merchant Eberhard from Glauchova. The author of all thirty signed bells is the Amsterdam city bell founder and clockmaker Claudy Fremy, who made them between 1683-91.
The bells were installed at Loreta in 1695 and big celebrations were held to mark the occasion. Each bell had its godfather from the ranks of the high nobility, and even the Bohemian Emperor Leopold I took patronage over the first bell.
The intriguing statue of St. Starosta (St. Wilgefortis)
The statue of St. Starosta ( in English known as St. Wilgefortis), in the corner chapel of the Loreta complex is probably the most unusual religious statue you’ll ever see. This is because St. Starosta is traditionally represented as a bearded woman in a long dress crucified on a cross. There are only about 2-3 places where you can see something like this in the Czech Republic and one of them (and the best one) is here at Loreta Church.
I have to admit I had no idea about the legend behind the statue before I visited Loreta, so it was fascinating to learn the story of St. Starosta.
The legend of St. Starosta, or Wilgefortis goes back to medieval times. According to the tale, she was a Christian princess who took a vow of virginity. Her father arranged her marriage to a pagan king, which she did not want to accept.
She prayed to God to make her undesirable to her suitor. In response to her prayers, she miraculously grew a beard over night. Her suitor, repulsed by her appearance, called off the marriage. Sadly that victory was short-lived, as her own father was so appalled by the turn of the events, that he had her crucified.
The story of St. Starosta became popular in the Middle Ages, especially among women seeking relief from abusive husbands or oppressive marriages. Her name “Starosta” means ” to look after or care for, but also patroness” in Czech. The word ‘Starosta’ is used in modern Czech language as a local mayor of village or small town and it’s always to address a man (a woman mayor would be ‘starostka’).
As you walk up the stairs to the treasury you can also see a large painting of St. Starosta, which was originally in the chapel instead of the statue. This was apparently because, whilst the church didn’t want to hide the legend of St. Starosta, it was deemed as too much to have an actual statue with real hair, beard and long dress on the show for everyone to see. I guess the painting somehow felt less real.
How to get to Loreta from the centre of Prague
The journey is very similar to the way to get to Prague Castle. Take tram 22 or 23 from the city centre (e.g., from Národní třída (underground station line B) or Malostranská Underground Station A line) and ride about 20 minutes to the top of Prague Castle Hill and get off at the Pohořelec stop (2nd stop beyond Prague Castle stop).
Start walking down the hill through the main street and after about 3-5 minutes walk turn left into Loreta Square with Loreta Complex Towers right in front of the large Czernin Palace.
If you happen to be already near Prague Castle you can easily walk up to Loreta Church from there, just follow signs to Loreta and it’s about 15-20 minutes walk (slightly uphill).
What to see nearby
Just before you walk down to Loreta, you can also turn right at the Pohorelec tram stop and walk straight to visit Strahov Monastery and then continue on to the historic Petrin Hill with it’s miniature Eiffel Tower and Mirror Maze.
Right opposite the Loreta, you’ll also find the beautiful Czernin Palace Gardens, which are a little bit of a hidden gem and completely free to enter (weekends during main tourist season).
You will also be right at the street entrance to the magical New World Area behind the Loreta Church. The best way is to walk down by the monastery with the Church of Our Lady of the Angels (that looks a little like a plain house from the outside) on the corner of the Loreta square.
If you continue walking down the hill you’ll reach the imposing Schwarzenberg Palace and the slightly hidden Sternberg Palace, which are open as one of the best art galleries in Prague and from there you’ll also see the main entrance to Prague Castle.
This blog post was originally written on 6 January 2025 and last updated on 6 January 2025
