Tepla Monastery

Tepla was founded in 1193 by Hroznata, a Bohemian nobleman who later joined the order and died in prison after being captured on the road, and who is venerated as a martyr; the Premonstratensians are still there. The abbey church is a rare thing in this part of the country: a late Romanesque basilica of about 1200 with an early Gothic vault, largely surviving under later furnishing. The library building, put up in 1902-1910, holds around a hundred thousand volumes and is the second largest monastic library in the country after Strahov, in a purpose-built hall with galleries. The abbey funded the development of Marianske Lazne on its land, so the spa exists because of it. The community was expelled in 1950 and the buildings used by the army until 1990; restoration has been running since. There is a museum and a hotel in the convent.

What you actually see

• A Romanesque basilica of about 1200 - with an early Gothic vault over it.
• A library of a hundred thousand volumes - second in the country after Strahov.
• Hroznata's tomb - the founder venerated as a martyr.
• A restoration in progress - after forty years of military use.

When to go

April to October. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Guided tours only, at set times, and it is a working monastery so areas are closed. Restoration means scaffolding in places. The church is cold. Public transport to Tepla is limited.

Nearby

Marianske Lazne is twelve kilometres south; Kynzvart is west.