About Fortna

Fortna is a convent of the Discalced Carmelites, open to the public, located at Hradčany, in the historic heart of Prague, within sight of Prague Castle. It offers a variety of programs focused on spirituality and education, as well as the opportunity to stay at a place where the physical and spiritual realms have intersected for centuries. We want to be an open house and invite you to co-create it with us.

The Convent of Discalced Carmelites

Fortna is currently home to two brothers from the Discalced Carmelite community at the Church of the Infant Jesus in Prague. While their everyday life may not be the most visible aspect of Fortna, it is the very heart of the place that allows it to be open to the public.

Open House

Fortna, which means “gate,” is a welcoming space where people can come to seek, rest, create, share, listen, participate, and simply be. The convent is open to all, without any prerequisites regarding prior experience, knowledge, beliefs, or denomination. In addition to its structured programs, Fortna offers an open space for visitors where they can just stay for a while.

Spiritual laboratory

Fortna embodies a search for a living Christianity and an authentic expression of the church in the 21st century. We believe that spirituality is a fundamental need and a vital part of every individual and community. Our aim is to remain open to God’s presence in both the significant moments of our lives and in everyday life. This openness may take form of silence and contemplation, or through shared work. At Fortna, we strive to create a space that nurtures the whole person—soul, spirit, and even, to some extent, body. We seek to creatively draw on the living tradition and authentic personal experiences.

Community of people

Fortna is formed by a broad community of people including the discalced carmelite brothers, a team of employees, volunteers, course participants and guides, as well as various groups and communities who meet here. Our goal is to create a space for meeting, sharing, and listening to one another—a space that welcomes everyone and can be shaped collaboratively by those who enter it.

Human solidarity is also reflected in Fortna’s economy, which is sustained through a combination of event fees, donations of all sizes, and facility rentals. By allowing participants to choose a voluntary price for events, we foster a sense of solidarity within each small community that forms around a retreat or event.