The Church of St. George in Prague, the city's second church, was commissioned by Prince Vratislav I in the early 10th century. A few decades later, Prince Boleslav II sent his 12-year-old sister, Mlada, to Rome to become a nun and to obtain the Pope's approval for establishing a bishopric in Prague. She succeeded, and in 973, she returned with the Pope's permission.

In honor of this important event, the Church of St. George was rebuilt into a basilica, and the first convent in the Czech lands, a Benedictine women's monastery, was founded. Mlada became the first abbess of this convent. From then on, the abbesses of St. George's Basilica were always members of the ruling family. They wore small crowns with monastic habits as a symbol of their status. Additionally, Emperor Charles IV granted them the privilege of crowning the queens of Bohemia.

In the 18th century, the monastery was closed by order of Emperor Joseph II of Habsburg, who, as was his custom, converted the site into military barracks. More recently, the former monastery was used by the National Gallery for exhibitions, but it is now reserved for temporary displays.

The Basilica of St. George is considered one of the best-preserved Romanesque buildings in Bohemia, though it has undergone changes over the centuries. These include the Gothic chapel of St. Ludmila from the 13th century, the Renaissance south portal from the 16th century, and the Baroque west facade and chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. On the basilica's side facing Jirská Street, you can see a relief of St. George fighting a dragon, as well as sculptures of Mlada, Prince Vratislav, and St. John of Nepomuk.

Several members of the Přemyslid dynasty are buried here, and the most important tomb is that of St. Ludmila, a pilgrimage site for Christians from across Europe. In the crypt, there is an unusual exhibit: a sculpture of a decomposing female figure. According to legend, the Italian master Spinetti carved it in the 18th century as punishment for the murder of his beloved woman. However, nowadays, scientists believe the sculpture is about 200 years older.

Visitors can explore the Basilica of St. George by purchasing tickets at Prague Castle information centers. For the latest ticket prices and opening hours visit the official website.