Strahov Monastery: Historic Landmark in Praha

The Strahov Monastery was founded in 1143 by Jindřich Zdík, Bishop John of Prague, and Vladislaus II, Duke of Bohemia, establishing it as a Premonstratensian abbey.

Initial construction of the monastery involved wooden buildings centered around a Romanesque basilica, with subsequent replacement by permanent stone structures. The monastery experienced significant damage by fire in 1258 and was later renewed.

During the Hussite Wars, the monastery was attacked and plundered in 1420, leading to the burning of books and furnishings. The monastery took a long time to recover and remained relatively moribund until the late 16th century.

From 1586, Abbot Jan Lohelius led a significant renewal, reconstructing the church and abbey buildings, establishing workshops, building a new dormitory and refectory, and laying out monastery gardens. He also worked to regain monastery estates.

Under Abbot Kašpar Questenberg, building activities continued, including the completion of lower cloisters and the prelature, erection of St. Elizabeth's Hospital, and addition of out-buildings and a brewery. A Norbertine seminary was also founded.

In 1627, the remains of Norbert of Xanten, the founder of the Premonstratensian order, were transferred from Magdeburg and laid to rest in the abbey church, a significant event for the order.

The Church of Saint Roch, originally started by Emperor Rudolf II in 1602, was completed with its interior by 1630 during the abbacy of Kašpar Questenberg.

The abbey was plundered by Swedish troops towards the end of the Thirty Years' War, with the church and library looted. Following the departure of the Swedes, Kryšpin Fuk oversaw repairs to the damaged abbey.

Abbot Franck had the prelature reconstructed and a new St. Elizabeth's Hospital built, as the original had been demolished during the construction of Baroque fortifications in Prague.

Abbot Jeroným Hirnheim, in office from 1670, oversaw the construction of a new library in the Theological Hall, which was completed in 1679 and has survived to the present day.

Following assaults by French and Bavarian troops and bombardment of Prague in 1742, the abbot organized building efforts anew, during which the church and monastery area were rebuilt.

In 1779, Abbot Václav Mayer commissioned the construction of a new library in Classical style, known today as the Philosophical Hall, which marked the end of extensive building activities at the monastery.

In 1950, the monastery was taken over by the communist regime, its religious members interned, and the site transformed into the Memorial of National Literature, though archaeological research revealed and reconstructed its Romanesque form.

After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, the monastery was returned to the Premonstratensian Order, initiating costly reconstructions and restorations.

By 1994, significant restoration work was completed, including the church, a new technical network, the Strahov picture gallery, and the Strahov library, alongside other architectural restorations.