Franciscan Monastery in Kadaň

The church's dedication to the Fourteen Holy Helpers shows the connection to then popular German shrines of the same cult.

The first building on the site of the present-day Franciscan Monastery in Kadaň was a moderate holy shrine first mentioned in 1469.

The Order experienced a bloom and expansion in Bohemia particularly after the visit of Saint John Capistran.

The three-aisled nave with sexpartite rib vault was finished in 1493 and dedicated by the bishop of Kamień Pomorski, Benedikt of Valdštejn.

A revival did not come until the second half of the 17th century, when the buildings were renovated and the church received new furniture and fixtures.

French soldiers of the anti-Habsburg coalition used the church as their shelter while withdrawing after they had been driven from Prague by the army of Maria Theresa in 1742.

Communists closed the monastery in 1950 and it was used as a record office's depositary and got dilapidated due to insufficient maintenance.

The diocesan officials entered into the agreement with the Municipal Office to lease the monastery to the town of Kadaň.

In 1999 the newer parts of the buildings were dedicated to the Primary Music, Dancing and Fine Arts School and a permanent exhibition of mining was opened in the cellars.

Originally it stood above the grave of the founder, but during the Baroque period the church was rebuilt and Franciscans put it against the wall.

They should have been executed but the intercessions of Kadaň inhabitants made the monarch have mercy on the future of the family and symbolically punish just one of the brothers.

The lot fell upon the eldest brother who was hanged straight afterwards in the place of execution that is said to have been situated in the site of the monastery.

After having heard of the miracle the monarch came to save the penitent‘s life, take down the gallows and have a shrine to the Helpers built.