Article Břevnov Monastery
The oldest male monastery in Bohemia
The Břevnov Monastery, located in Prague about three kilometers west of Prague Castle, is the oldest male monastery in Bohemia. Its history dates back to 993, when it was founded by Prince Boleslav II and the Prague Bishop St. Adalbert. Since then, it has become an important spiritual and cultural center.
Břevnov Monastery
The monastery as a whole, with the Basilica of St. Margaret and other buildings in the monastery garden, is protected as a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic. The monastery is considered the oldest documented place of brewing beer in the entire Czech Republic, a tradition continued by the Břevnov Monastery Brewery.
In 1997, Pope John Paul II visited the monastery.
A history full of twists and turns
According to legend, Prince Boleslav II and Bishop St. Adalbert met at the source of the Brusnice stream, where a deer showed them a suitable place to found a monastery. The name „Břevnov“ is derived from a log that lay in a well.
The monastery experienced periods of prosperity and decline. During the Hussite Wars, it was destroyed and the monks were forced to flee. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the monastery underwent a magnificent renovation in the Baroque style and became a center of learning and art. In the 20th century, the monastery was abolished twice, first by the Nazis and then by the Communists. After the Velvet Revolution, the monks returned and resumed monastic life.
Monastery complex
The Břevnov Monastery complex is open to the public and also offers guided tours, which include the basilica, crypt, representative rooms, Theresian Hall and the monastery garden. The monastery complex also houses the Adalbert Hotel and the Klášterní šenk restaurant, where you can taste traditional Czech cuisine and beer from the local brewery.
Benedictine Order
The monastery complex is owned and managed by the Benedictine Order, the oldest monastic order in Western Europe. The Benedictines follow the motto „Ora et labora“ (Pray and work) and are dedicated to spiritual life, education and the care of cultural heritage. Currently, nine monks live here.
Basilica of St. Margaret
The dominant feature of the monastery is the Baroque Basilica of St. Margaret, the work of architect Kryštof Dientzenhofer and his son Kilián Ignác. The church was built between 1708 and 1745.
Interior of the basilica
The interior of the church was designed by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer and is one of the masterpieces of Czech Baroque architecture. The ceiling is decorated with paintings by Jan Jakub Steinfels and the walls are decorated with large paintings by Petr Brandl.
Main altar
A gilded wooden statue of the patron saint of the church, St. Margaret, is set in a niche on the main altar from 1718. Her remains are kept in the altar table.
Tomb of St. Vintíř
On the south wall of the church choir is a stone Gothic tombstone of Saint Vintíř, who died on October 9, 1045 and is revered as the patron saint of the Czech and Bavarian Benedictines.
Romanesque crypt
Under the choir of the church, an archaeological survey uncovered the floor of the crypt of a three-nave Romanesque basilica from the mid-11th century. This is one of the oldest and most valuable monuments of Romanesque architecture in the Czech Republic.
Monastery garden
The vast cloistered garden with Baroque statues and a fountain has been opened to the public after a demanding renovation and offers a peaceful place to relax. It is open every day until 8:00 PM.
The source of the Brusnice stream
In the northwestern part of the area is the spring of the Brusnice stream. According to legend, Prince Boleslav II and Bishop St. Adalbert met at this place when they founded the monastery in 993. The site for the monastery was chosen precisely because of its abundant water source. A chapel with an early Gothic vault was built above the spring. It has survived to this day.
Summer Palace of Alojteška
Above the chapel with the spring, a medieval pavilion was first built, and in the years 1722–25 a two-story summer palace was built.
Representative spaces
The halls, cloisters and corridors of the prelature are decorated with stucco and frescoes by various artists from the first half of the 18th century. The first floor is the former residence of the abbot, now there are representative halls decorated with frescoes.
Theresian Hall
The large hall with frescoes by Jan Jakub Steinfels and stucco decoration is one of the most beautiful Baroque interiors in Bohemia. It is named after the dominant image of Maria Theresa.
