Netflix’s upcoming limited series The Age of Innocence has moved filming this week to one of Prague’s most recognizable landmarks, transforming Náměstí Míru into a 19th-century setting for a key sequence in the adaptation of Edith Wharton’s classic novel. Production crews are working at the Basilica of St. Ludmila (formerly the Church of St. Ludmila), a neo-Gothic church that dominates the Vinohrady square, with filming scheduled to continue through Friday.
The shoot has resulted in temporary closures the church, which is normally open to visitors and worshippers. According to a statement from the parish, the basilica closed on Jan. 9 and 10, reopened for regular Sunday services on Jan. 11, and will remain closed again from Jan. 12 through Jan. 16. Much of Náměstí Míru, including areas recently occupied by the annual Christmas market, are also closed to public access during the shoot.
Casting notices circulating locally suggest the production is staging a wedding scene at the church. Based on Wharton’s story and previously announced casting, the sequence may depict the marriage of May Welland, played by Kristine Froseth, and Newland Archer, portrayed by Ben Radcliffe, though this is purely speculative.
Photos © The Prague Reporter
Major Netflix production continues its Prague run
The Age of Innocence is an eight-episode limited series written and executive produced by Emma Frost, known for period dramas including The White Queen and Jamaica Inn. The project adapts Wharton’s 1920 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, set in the rigid social world of 1870s New York, and explores themes of duty, desire, and personal freedom. Filming in the Czech Republic began in the fall of 2025 and is scheduled to continue through March 2026, combining studio work with extensive location shooting.
Prague has been standing in for 19th-century New York throughout the production, with previous shoots taking place around Wenceslas Square, Old Town, and New Town. Czech production company Stillking Films is coordinating the local shoot, providing crews, logistics, and production services for the international project.
The series stars Radcliffe as Newland Archer, a young lawyer navigating the expectations of high society; Camila Morrone as the unconventional Countess Ellen Olenska; and Froseth as May Welland, Archer’s fiancée. The ensemble also includes Margo Martindale, Fiona Glascott, Belinda Bromilow, Emma Shipp, and guest star Hayley Mills. Direction duties are shared among Shannon Murphy, Lisa Brühlmann, and Natalia Leite.
Prague is not the only Czech location featured in the series. In November, production moved to Liberec, where the city’s historic town hall and surrounding streets were used to capture additional period settings. Together, the Prague and regional shoots highlight the Czech Republic’s growing role as a hub for large-scale international television productions, particularly historical dramas requiring versatile architecture and experienced crews.
Following the Náměstí Míru shoot, The Age of Innocence is set to continue filming next week in Prague 2, with planned locations along the Náplavka waterfront and near the Vyšehrad railway bridge. Local authorities have previously warned residents to expect temporary access restrictions and parking limitations tied to the production.
Basilica of St. Ludmila as a cinematic backdrop
The Basilica of St. Ludmila, officially designated a minor basilica in 2022, is one of Prague’s most prominent neo-Gothic structures and a defining feature of the Vinohrady district. Designed by architect Josef Mocker in the late 19th century, the twin-spired church was completed in 1892 and reflects the period’s fascination with medieval architectural forms. Its dramatic façade and spacious interior have made it a frequent subject of photography and an occasional filming location.
Named after Saint Ludmila, the first Duchess of Bohemia and a patron saint of the Czech lands, the church holds both historical and cultural significance. Ludmila is closely associated with the early Christianization of Bohemia and the upbringing of her grandson, Saint Wenceslas. While her remains are housed at the Basilica of St. George within Prague Castle, the Church of St. Ludmila remains an important symbol of Czech religious history.
The basilica’s elevation in status by Pope Francis placed it among a small group of officially recognized basilicas in Prague, alongside landmarks at Břevnov, Strahov, Old Town Square, and Vyšehrad. Its location on Náměstí Míru, adjacent to a busy metro station and surrounded by cafés and residential buildings, makes filming logistics particularly visible to the public.
For The Age of Innocence, the church’s ornate interior and imposing exterior provide a convincing stand-in for a high-society wedding venue from the late 19th century. Period productions have increasingly turned to Prague for such settings, drawn by the city’s architectural diversity, competitive incentive system, and deep pool of skilled local professionals.
