The whole complex of contemporary Octárna is built on the former convent of buildings of the Franciscan monastery from 17th century, which soon after its inception became an important centre of education of Moravia region. As opposed to the city, the monastery survived thirty-year war without any damage. The convent experienced almost two hundred years of gradual construction and prosperity and then two hundred years of gradual decline. After cancellation of monastery, there was a military bakery and then vinegar manufactory and in spite of its short duration the name “Octárna” remained in subconscious of inhabitants of the city to this day. Franciscan convent of Kroměříž is a part of history of the city – how many people have walked through its gates in almost four centuries. Even Max Švabinský, native of Kroměříž, spent years of his childhood here.
Turn of previous and present century brought imperative changes in utilization and architectural appearance of former monastery. Trench, which divided convent and the city, was replaced by the communication. The area of convent itself has seen changes by new entrance gate with central communication from Tovačovského Street to Kostnická Street. On place of former cemetery was build city poorhouse, present health centre in neo-gothic style by architect L. Messenský, who also realized an additional building of Chapel of St. Cross.
However, objects of convent were dilapidating without any services for long years. As late as the eighties former convent was published as the historic landmark. In 1992 municipality of Kroměříž realized selection procedure. Competition won one of Kroměříž’s companies called Elma-therm, which reconstructed all buildings of complex including Chapel of St. Cross, built up the restaurant with wine bar, guest house with refectory and relax centre. Since January 2008 the whole complex has a new owner. The intention of the new owner is to keep the whole complex in use of general public…