Strahov Monastery & L.ibrary

The Strahov Monastery complex includes the beautiful Monastery Basilica; the world-famous Strahov Library; the Strahov Art Gallery, home to the Strahov Madonna; and the Strahov Abbey Gardens, from where visitors can enjoy magnificent views over the Lesser Town and the whole of Prague beyond.

Strahov Monastery was established in 1143 for the Premonstratensians, followers of the teachings of St. Augustine. Even today it is primarily a place where the community of Premonstratensian brothers live and work.

In 1258, a devastating fire destroyed much of the monastery, and it was subsequently rebuilt in the Gothic style. Further work was undertaken during the Late Renaissance period to the Basilica and Abbey Gardens. And following damage by Swedish troops in 1648, the monastery was enlarged and redesigned in the Baroque style.

The Monastery Basilica (officially the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary) is one of the most beautiful churches in Prague. The spiritual centre of the Abbey, it was built as a three-nave Romanesque basilica, but its current form includes a Gothic transept and two Renaissance towers with Baroque modifications. The interior walls are decorated with frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St Norbert, the founder of the order.

The Strahov Library halls – the Theological and Philosophical – date from the 17th and 18th centuries, and are considered among the most beautiful in the world. The Library contains 16,000 books, comprising one of the oldest monastic book collections in the country. This despite ransacking by several invading armies over the years. Strahov Library also boasts a collection of globes dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

The Strahov Art Gallery features 200 paintings from the 14th to 20th century, including the renowned Strahov Madonna.

The Strahov Abbey Gardens is a tranquil green oasis and vineyard.

Visitors can enter the vestibule area of Strahov Basilica and wander around parts of the gardens and grounds outside free of charge.

Tickets to visit other parts of the Strahov Monastery complex can be purchased on the day from the Ticket Office. A ticket entitles you to visit the public areas of: Strahov Library (excludes entering the halls), Strahov Art Gallery, the Treasury, and the Abbey buildings and gardens, including the Cloisters, Dining Halls and Romanesque Halls.

The Strahov Monastery complex and the grounds surrounding it have a serene, meditative quality. You can feel the history of its foundations all around. It was once a hidden gem of Prague. It is more well-known these days, but all the same, visitors will feel fortunate to have discovered it.

Food and Drink: Na Pekle is an underground restaurant within the Strahov Monastery complex, where guests can experience 600 years of winemaking, dining and beer brewing. Serves authentic traditional Czech cuisine. The restaurant also has an outdoor seating area in the summer.

Nearby, Strahov Monastery Brewery (Klášterní Pivovar Strahov) has indoor and outdoor seating areas. It brews its own Saint Norbert beer, which includes light and dark lagers and IPAs, and serves traditional Czech food, such as pork schnitzel and beef goulash.