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All Czechia Prague Strahov Monastery

Strahov Monastery

Two stunning 17th-century libraries and a cabinet of curiosities.

Prague, Czechia

Added By
Michelle Enemark
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Strahov Monastery Library   Nan Palmero
The huge Philosophical Hall   curiousexpeditions.org
The Theological Hall   curiousexpeditions.org
The “compilation wheel”   curiousexpeditions.org
Curiosity Cabinets   curiousexpeditions.org
Curiosity Cabinet   User submitted
  lange2512 / Atlas Obscura User
  lange2512 / Atlas Obscura User
Philosophical Hall - The Struggle of Mankind to Know Real History   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  wurzeltod / Atlas Obscura User
Entrance  
Strahov Monastery entrance   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Astronomical atlas from “Al Sufi”. Middle of the XIVth century, from nord of Italy. Exhibited in Strahov monastery’s library, Prague.   Yelkrokoyade
  lange2512 / Atlas Obscura User
Decorated Bible   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Printing Press   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Cabinet of Curiosities   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Close-ups of sea creatures in Cabinet of Curiousities   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Theological Hall   Jaszmina Szendrey / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Tucked away on the top of a hill in Prague is the Strahov Monastery, the second-oldest monastery in the city.

It was built in 1140 and has been rebuilt numerous times since, due to the ravages of various wars. It is likely not the monastery itself, nor its church, however, that astonishes visitors. That distinction goes to the the library within its walls.

The library is divided into two major halls: the Baroque Theological Hall contains 18,000 religious texts, and the grand Philosophical Hall has over 42,000 ancient philosophical texts. The libraries hold many rare volumes, are masterfully frescoed, and contain 17th-century geographical globes.

Above the shelves of the Theological Hall are gilded wooded-carved decorations with wooden cartouches. These functioned as a sort of beautiful early card catalogue system. The pictures in the wooden cartouches and their titles specified the type of literature stored on the shelves below.

Of special note is the compilation wheel, used by 17th-century scribes to compile texts. The scribe would place various texts that he needed to copy from on the wheel, which functioned as a kind of rotating shelf. A planetary mechanism inside ensured that the books were always held at the same angle, even as they spun around.

Strahov also contains a beautiful cabinet of curiosities, brought to the monastery from the estate of Karel Jan Erben in 1798. The hall of cabinets include bits of a dodo bird, a large 18th-century electrostatic device, numerous old ocean specimens, insects, minerals, anthropological artifacts, and for unclear reasons, many glass cases full of wax fruit.

Related Tags

Wonder Cabinets Sacred Spaces Repositories Of Knowledge

Know Before You Go

Trams No 22,23 to Poho.

One must purchase tickets in the building at the entrance, across the courtyard to the left of the gift shop. Check website for availability, pricing, and further information.

The Library and Gallery are located a few yards further in on the right. There are separate entrance fees for both. Highly recommend purchasing tickets for both, as you only have visual access to the Library from behind a rope. Whereas the Gallery allows you more freedom of movement.The Na Pekle restaurant, (uphill and to the right), is in caverns which is of interest and the food is quite good as well.

 

Community Contributors

Added By

michelle

Edited By

pgosun, iellwen, hrnick, SEANETTA...

  • pgosun
  • iellwen
  • hrnick
  • SEANETTA
  • mbison
  • Jaszmina Szendrey
  • wurzeltod
  • Sebastian Wortys
  • rbenn250
  • nanpalmero
  • lange2512

Published

September 10, 2009

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Sources
  • http://curiousexpeditions.org/?cat=36
  • http://www.aviewoncities.com/prague/strahovmonastery.htm
  • http://www.prague.net/strahov-monastery
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Haniver
Strahov Monastery
1 Strahovské nádvoří
Prague, 118 00
Czechia
50.086148, 14.389252
Visit Website
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