| Detail: Visitors usually
enter the Strahov Monastery by the Baroque gate decorated with a statue of St. Norbert,
the founder of the Premmonstratensian/st. Norbert Order. Than they continue trough the
courtyard, passing buy a miniature renaissance-gothic Church dedicated to St.Rochus
/patron of saint protecting people against plague epidemics/. After a short uphill walk
they reach the monastery from the back door and they can start exploring both splendid
library halls. Theological Hall can offer wonderful stucco ceiling with frescos dedicated
to sciences, education and different proverbs, rich collection of more than 15 000 books,
astronomical and geographical globes/ where America is sometimes hard to find../, precious
old songbooks and unique pieces of furniture. Philosophical Hall occupies two floors, it is really a temple of sciences,
books about mathematics, physics astronomy, astrology. All together more than 50 000.The
book cabinets were originally designed for a different monastery, so the hall had to be
enlarged according to them. The book cabinets represent great example of baroque
woodcarving. The entire space is crowned by a fresco ”The Struggle of Mankind to Know
Real Wisdom”.
From there visitors can proceed to the cabinets of
curiosities, peak into the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Marry, where Mozart used
to play the organ during his Prague visit and than end the tour with stunning view at
Prague panorama from the backyard of the Monastery. |
