The German historical drama Charité has returned to Prague for production on its fifth season, marking a renewed collaboration between the long-running series and the Czech capital. While no official announcement has been made, filming is currently underway at the city’s Invalidovna complex, which once again stands in for Berlin’s famed hospital.
Production on Charité has taken over the Baroque-era site in Karlín from early March through mid-April, according to local observations and industry sources. The entire complex is closed to the public during filming. The project is also registered with the Czech Audiovisual Fund, with Prague-based Mia Film providing local production services.
The return signals a shift back to the series’ historical roots following its fourth season, which departed from tradition with a futuristic setting and filmed outside the Czech Republic.
Production on Charité at Prague’s Invalidovna complex. Photos © The Prague Reporter
A return to historical storytelling
Since its debut in 2017, Charité has built its identity around dramatizing pivotal periods in medical history, each season unfolding in a distinct era with an entirely new cast of characters. The anthology-style structure has allowed the series to explore different generations of doctors and researchers connected to Berlin’s real-life Charité hospital, one of Europe’s most renowned medical institutions.
The first season was set in the late 19th century during a period of rapid scientific advancement, focusing on figures such as Robert Koch, whose work on tuberculosis marked a turning point in bacteriology. Subsequent seasons moved forward in time: the second examined ethical dilemmas during World War II under the Nazi regime, while the third explored the tensions of a divided Berlin on the eve of the Berlin Wall’s construction in 1961.
In contrast, the fourth season jumped ahead to the year 2049, imagining a near-future healthcare system shaped by climate crisis and technological change. That installment was filmed largely in Lisbon and featured a completely new creative direction.
The Prague shoot for season five suggests another pivot—this time back into the past. Costumes observed on set indicate a period setting earlier than the series’ original late-19th-century timeline, potentially placing the narrative closer to the hospital’s founding in the early 18th century. The real Charité hospital was established in 1710, aligning closely with the era in which Prague’s Invalidovna complex was constructed.
Casting and creative details remain under wraps for the latest season, but a full reset of characters is expected given the show’s established format.
Invalidovna’s ongoing role in Prague production
The Invalidovna complex has become a familiar stand-in for Berlin’s Charité hospital, having hosted filming for the series’ earlier seasons. Built between 1731 and 1737 and designed by architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, the structure originally served as housing for war veterans, inspired by Paris’ Les Invalides.
Its preserved Baroque architecture and expansive courtyards make it particularly well-suited for historical productions. However, the site is not currently in active public use and has long awaited redevelopment, allowing film crews to take full control of the space for extended shoots such as Charité.
The complex’s film history extends beyond the German series. It has appeared in major international productions including Amadeus, directed by Miloš Forman, and Hellboy, as well as more recent projects like Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu adaptation. Its versatility has made it one of Prague’s more distinctive large-scale locations.
Earlier seasons of Charité also utilized a wide range of locations across Prague and beyond, including the former St. Gabriel Monastery, the maternity hospital at Apolinář, and Barrandov Studio. These sites have collectively enabled the production to recreate historical Berlin across multiple eras.
The involvement of Mia Film further underscores the continuity between the Prague-shot seasons. The company has previously handled local production for Charité‘s earlier seasons, as well as international projects such as The Empress, reinforcing Prague’s role as a reliable base for European period dramas.
While official confirmation of the fifth season remains pending, the scale of the current shoot at Invalidovna leaves little doubt that Charité is once again making Prague a central part of its production. The return not only reconnects the series with its earlier visual identity, but also highlights the city’s enduring appeal for historical storytelling on screen.
