A new Czech-Slovak-German-Polish historical production has completed filming across some of the country’s most significant medieval sites. Agnes (Anežka), a two-episode, 120-minute miniseries directed by Lenka Wimmerová, dramatizes the life of St. Agnes of Bohemia, a 13th-century Přemyslid princess who rejected dynastic expectations to pursue a life of service.
Backed by an international co-production team, the project marks the first major screen interpretation of Agnes’s story. Czech actress Eliška Křenková leads the cast as the future saint, portraying her transformation from royal daughter expected to marry for political gain to founder of a convent and advocate for the poor.
Produced for Česká televize and represented internationally by ZDF Studios, post-production on Agnes is planned for completion in late 2026. The miniseries aims to contextualize its subject’s historical role while examining themes of equality, social justice and personal conviction.
Production across key Czech heritage sites
The production filmed extensively at historic locations that mirror the 13th-century Central European setting of the story. Sites included the Convent of St. Agnes (Anežský klášter) in Prague—closely tied to Agnes’s own legacy—as well as Cheb Castle, Lipnice Castle, Zvíkov Castle and the Basilica of St. Procopius in Třebíč. Producers say these locations were selected to capture the architectural scale and lived environment of medieval Bohemia.
Filming was led by director Wimmerová and cinematographer Martin Štrba, with production design by Petr Kunc and costumes by Katarína Štrbová Bieliková. The project is produced by Pavel Berčík of Film Kolektiv and Karla Stojáková of Axman Production, with co-production partners across Slovakia, Germany and Poland, including PubRes, 42film, MD4 and Czech Television.
According to Czech Television creative producer Tereza Polachová, the project offers a modern interpretation of the Middle Ages through a female-centered narrative. She noted that the series combines historical drama with a contemporary perspective on personal agency and social responsibility. Co-producer Karla Stojáková added that Agnes’s life reflects values still meaningful to viewers today, citing themes of family, solidarity and moral courage.
Development support for the miniseries includes Creative Europe – MEDIA programs, the Film Foundation, the Prague Audiovisual Fund, and funding provided through the EU’s Next Generation initiative and the Czech Recovery Plan. Regional support also comes from the Karlovy Vary and Vysočina regions.
Bringing a historical figure to contemporary audiences
The two-part miniseries explores Agnes’s early life as a Přemyslid princess expected to marry into European nobility, a role she ultimately refused. Instead, she chose a path that placed her in conflict with political expectations and church authorities. The narrative focuses on how she navigated these pressures while establishing a religious community dedicated to serving the poor and sick.
Screenwriter Tereza Brdečková, drawing on historical accounts and legend, aimed to present Agnes not only as a saintly figure but as a determined woman shaped by personal hardship. Brdečková describes the character as someone who “refused to be royal property for sale” and whose experiences revealed “what truly matters: self-respect, spiritual and human love, and solidarity.”
The cast includes Barbora Bočková, Oskar Hes, Václav Jiráček and Jaroslav Plesl in supporting roles. The creative team intends for the series to balance intimate character drama with a broader depiction of 13th-century political and social structures. The story highlights issues that remain relevant, including the value of human life, gender equality, social justice and the responsibilities of leadership.
Agnes of Bohemia’s legacy endured long after her death, culminating in her canonization during the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The miniseries positions her life as both historically grounded and resonant with contemporary audiences, reflecting her role as a figure whose influence is still acknowledged in Czech public memory.
Lead photo: Eliška Křenková as St. Agnes of Bohemia © Česká televize / Zuzana Panská
