Kostel Jana Křtitele na Prádle

Kostel Jana Křtitele na Prádle serves as a compelling example of Prague's layer-cake history, sitting quietly at the corner of Říční and Všehrdova streets in Malá Strana. Originally a Romanesque and Gothic structure established in 1142, the church survived the turbulent centuries only to be deconsecrated in 1784, when it was repurposed as a laundry facility and carpet cleaning service—a practical, industrial past that earned it its enduring nickname. Today, the church is used by the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and remains a cultural monument, retaining original features such as a sharp Gothic roof, internal frescoes dating to roughly 1350, and remnants of a long-lost cemetery nearby. It is a location that rewards the observant visitor, offering a rare glimpse into a site that has oscillated between sacred purpose and gritty utility over nearly nine centuries.