Strahovský klášter

About the museum

Strahov Monastery is the seat of the Royal Canonry of Premonstratensians at Strahov in Hradčany. The oldest parts visitors pass through on the joint tour are the cloister with the Paradise Courtyard, the chapter house, the Romanesque halls, and the summer and winter refectories. The Romanesque halls originally served as monastery storerooms from the late 12th to the early 13th century, and their Baroque vaults were added in 1671–1674. The original chapter house was destroyed by damage from the French bombardment of Prague in 1742; the present one was built in 1750–1753. The summer refectory of 1691 was designed by the architect Jan Baptista Mathey, and its ceiling was decorated with a fresco by Siard Nosecký.

The library has been part of the monastery since its foundation. Today’s halls date from the Baroque and Classicist periods: the Theological Hall was created in the 1670s, and the Philosophical Hall in 1782–1797, whose ceiling was painted by Franz Anton Maulbertsch. Visitors do not enter the halls themselves, in order to protect the books and frescoes; they view them from the entrance. In the back rooms there is a cabinet of curiosities, facsimiles of the most precious manuscripts and a collection of globes. The oldest manuscript in the collection is the Strahov Gospels.

The Strahov Gallery began to be formed in 1835 and today has more than fifteen hundred paintings, of which almost two hundred are displayed in the monastery arcades on the first floor. The collection ranges from Gothic to Romanticism and includes, for example, the Strahov Madonna from around 1340. The gallery can be viewed only as part of the joint tour with the library and the historic spaces of the monastery; the exhibition of the Treasury of liturgical art is also included.

Highlights

• Joint tour of the library, gallery, chapter house, Romanesque halls and refectories
• Theological and Philosophical Halls of the library with frescoes (view from the anteroom)
• Strahov Gallery with the Strahov Madonna from around 1340
• Cabinet of curiosities and a collection of globes
• Exhibition Treasury of liturgical art and goldsmiths’ work

Permanent exhibitions

• Společný okruh: knihovna, Strahovská galerie a historické prostory kláštera – The tour leads through the library with its cabinet of curiosities, the Strahov Gallery with its collection of Gothic to Romantic painting, and the cloister with the chapter house, Romanesque halls and refectories.
• Klenotnice – An exhibition of liturgical art and goldsmiths’ work, prepared in cooperation with the Olomouc Museum of Art.

Operated by

Královská kanonie premonstrátů na Strahově

Admission & discounts

The price of CZK 390 applies to the joint tour (library, gallery and historic spaces of the monastery, excluding the church). Tickets can be bought online (in CZK, EUR and USD) or at the ticket office in St Roch’s Church by the main gate (cash and card). Members of religious orders and congregations, holders of ICOM cards and teachers accompanying school groups also enter free.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The historic building is not entirely step-free. On the ground floor the chapter house, refectories, Romanesque halls and toilets are accessible; the gallery can be reached by lift after prior arrangement. The library has only a narrow staircase. Accessible toilets are in the Strahov Courtyard at the library entrance and on Pohořelec Square. Parking within the monastery grounds is not permitted; exceptions for persons with disabilities are arranged in advance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

A family ticket is available (CZK 790 for the joint tour, CZK 460 for the library); children under 6 enter free.

Getting there & parking

Charles Bridge is about 1.5 km away, and the Petřín Lookout Tower about 600 m.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Restaurant Na Pekle in the former monastery wine cellars and the Klášterní pivovar Strahov restaurant in the courtyard. The monastery shop by the main gate sells souvenirs and drinks. Luggage lockers are at the ticket office in St Roch’s Church; the public toilets in the courtyard cost CZK 20.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Rentals are arranged by Eva Doubková (eva.doubkova@strahovskyklaster.cz); concert production is handled by produkce@strahovskyklaster.cz.

Plan your visit