Brevnov Monastery

Brevnov was founded in 993 by Duke Boleslav II and Bishop Adalbert, jointly, according to the tradition, after both dreamed of the same spring - which is the Vojteska spring still in the grounds. It is the oldest male monastery in Bohemia, and Benedictines live in it again today. The complex was rebuilt between 1708 and 1740 by Christoph and Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer: the basilica of St Margaret is one of their best interiors, with a nave of interpenetrating oval bays, and under it survive the excavated foundations of the Romanesque crypt of about 1040, shown on the tour. The prelature holds the Theresian Hall with a painted ceiling. The brewery is documented from 993, which gives it a claim to being among the oldest in the country, and it operates again.

History

Saint Adalbert, the second bishop of Prague, founded the monastery in 993 with the support of Duke Boleslaus II; it was the first Benedictine monastery for men in Bohemia, and it has the country's oldest tradition of brewing. Adalbert left Bohemia in 994 after quarrels with the ruler, and new life came with Duke Břetislav I, who began a stone church and obtained the relics of Gunther, a monk of Niederaltaich; daughter houses were founded at Broumov and Police. In the Hussite wars of the 1420s the abbot and monks fled to Broumov and the monastery and its brewery were nearly destroyed. After the Thirty Years' War Abbot Othmar Daniel Zinke had the present Baroque complex built in 1708-1740 to plans by Christoph Dientzenhofer, with interiors by his son Kilian Ignaz, altarpieces by Petr Brandl and a ceiling fresco and stucco by the Asam brothers; the brewery then made up to 5,000 hectolitres a year, until it closed in 1889. The buildings were thoroughly repaired from 1991 for the monastery's thousandth anniversary in 1993, Pope John Paul II visited in 1997, when it was raised to an archabbey, and since 2011 beer has been brewed here again (Wikipedia, Břevnov Monastery).

Highlights

• A foundation of 993 - the oldest monastery in Bohemia, Benedictines in residence.
• The Dientzenhofer basilica - St Margaret's, with interpenetrating oval bays.
• A Romanesque crypt - excavated foundations of about 1040 beneath it.
• A brewery documented from 993 - working again in the grounds.

When to go

All year. Half a day.

Things to know

The basilica interior and the crypt are seen only on guided tours at set times, usually at weekends. It is a working monastery and quiet is expected. The brewery restaurant is busy at weekends.

Nearby

Prague Castle is east; the Hvezda hunting lodge is west.

Key facts