The history of one of the most famous churches in the Czech capital began in the Early Middle Ages. As evidenced by the historical documents of the Benedictine Brevnov monastery, the existence of an ancient Romanesque church on the site of the present-day Church of St. Nicholas was known as early as 1273. Needless to say, the ancient church left the modern shrine only a couple of ruins, which formed the basis of its foundation, and the name of St. Nicholas, in whose honor it was consecrated.

In the middle of the 14th century, the ancient temple was rebuilt into a beautiful Gothic church with two slender towers and a cemetery. Within the walls of the new church, such legendary personalities as the Czech priest and writer Jan Milic gave their famous sermons. Even in those early days, it was prophesied that the church would become the Hussite abode. And so it happened, but the prophecy did not come true immediately. The ancient church changed its parishioners – Lutheran, Catholic, and Orthodox – and its appearance: from Gothic to Renaissance. Later, the church was completely gutted by fire.

The majestic monument of sacred architecture that rises in Prague's Old Town Square was erected in the middle of the 17th century by the famous architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. The magnificent 49-meter-high Baroque basilica with tall towers and a huge central dome is richly decorated with stucco work by the Italian sculptor Bernardo Spinetti and statues by the Czech sculptor Antonin Braun. There are allegorical figures of the Old and New Testaments; Faith, Hope, and Love; sculptures of saints and patrons of the Czech Republic; statues of Mercy and St. Nicholas, who gave name to the church.

The church interior amazes visitors with original frescoes depicting scenes from the life of saints Nicholas and Benedict, created by the talented Bavarian painter Cosmas Damian Asam.