The Strahov Monastery is a historic abbey in Prague, Czech Republic, founded in 1143 by Bishop Jindřich Zdík and Duke Vladislaus II. It belongs to the Premonstratensian order of canons regular, who follow the rule of Saint Augustine. The monastery has a rich history of cultural and religious significance, and it houses a magnificent library with over 200,000 volumes, including rare manuscripts and globes.
The monastery is open to visitors every day from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except on December 24th and 25th. The entrance fee is 120 CZK for adults, 60 CZK for students and seniors, and free for children under 6 years old. You can also book a guided tour for an additional fee of 40 CZK per person. The tours are available in Czech, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian languages.
To get to the monastery, you can take tram number 22 or 25 and get off at Pohořelec stop. From there, it is a short walk uphill to the monastery gate. Alternatively, you can take bus number 143 or 149 and get off at Strahovská stop. From there, it is a downhill walk to the monastery.
Some tips for visiting the monastery are:
- Wear comfortable shoes and clothes, as the monastery is located on a hill and has many stairs.
- Respect the silence and the rules of the monastery, such as no photography or video recording inside the library or the church.
- Enjoy the stunning views of Prague from the monastery terrace and garden.
- Visit the Strahov Brewery, which is located next to the monastery and offers traditional Czech cuisine and beer brewed on site.
Some of the main attractions of the monastery are:
- The Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, which is the main church of the monastery and has a beautiful baroque interior with frescoes and paintings.
- The Library of Strahov Monastery, which consists of two halls: the Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall. The Theological Hall contains books on theology, history and philosophy, while the Philosophical Hall contains books on natural sciences, mathematics and astronomy. Both halls have impressive ceilings decorated with frescoes depicting various scenes from human knowledge and culture.
- The Cabinet of Curiosities, which is a small museum that displays various objects collected by the monks over the centuries, such as fossils, minerals, shells, stuffed animals and instruments.
- The Picture Gallery, which exhibits paintings from various periods and styles, mostly by Czech artists. Some of the highlights are works by Karel Škréta, Petr Brandl and Norbert Grund.
