The Dominican Monastery is the oldest gothic building in České Budějovice, founded in the 13th century not long after the town itself. The original monastery was built for the Dominican order who arrived here in 1265, the same year the town was founded. The complex survived the Hussite wars and various fires better than most medieval buildings in the region.
The monastery church contains a remarkable painted ceiling and several notable Gothic frescoes. The cloister is particularly peaceful and has been carefully maintained. The complex remains active as a monastery, so access to some areas is limited, but the church is open to visitors and the architectural quality is high enough to merit a visit even if the Cathedrals are more obviously prominent.