Why go

Strahov Monastery was founded in 1140 for the Premonstratensian order, and it still stands on the hilltop west of Prague Castle, a short walk from the crowds but a world away in feel. Its great treasure is the library, one of the most valuable and best-preserved historic libraries anywhere, with around 200,000 volumes. Two magnificent halls hold the oldest part of the collection, their walls lined with carved and gilded bookcases and their ceilings covered in frescoes.

It is the kind of place that photographs famously well, and the reality does not disappoint. The monastery also has a Baroque church, a picture gallery with Gothic, Rudolfine and Baroque paintings, and courtyards with views over the city. Because it sits beyond the castle, many visitors never reach it, and those who do often find it the most memorable stop of the day. The walk up from Malá Strana along Nerudova Street and the Úvoz lane is steep but rewarding, with glimpses back over the rooftops as you climb.

What to see

  • The Theological Hall. Built between 1671 and 1674 and later extended, with stucco and frescoes by the Strahov monk Siard Nosecký and a row of historic globes.
  • The Philosophical Hall. The larger, two-storey Classical hall from the 1790s, with walnut shelves and a vast ceiling painting by Anton Maulbertsch of the spiritual development of humanity.
  • The Strahov Gospel Book. The oldest manuscript in the library, probably written around 860 in Tours in France, shown in the exhibition.
  • The cabinet of curiosities. Natural history specimens collected in the spirit of the Renaissance.
  • The Strahov Picture Gallery. One of the most important collections of older painting in central Europe.

Plan your visit

The library and gallery open every day from 9am to 5pm. Tickets are sold until 4.15pm and the last entry is at 4.30pm. Over the holidays the library closes on 24 and 25 December and on Easter Sunday, opens from 9am to noon on 31 December and from noon to 5pm on 1 January.

A library ticket costs 220 CZK, with reduced tickets at 110 CZK and a family ticket at 460 CZK. A joint ticket for the library and picture gallery costs 340 CZK. Buy tickets at the box office in St Roch’s Church by the main gate, or online for a set date and time.

One thing to know before you go: to protect the books and the delicate climate of the halls, the regular visit does not enter the two great halls. You view them from their doorways, which still gives a clear look at the shelves and ceilings but not the experience of walking through. Allow an hour, or longer with the gallery. Arrive at 9am for the quietest time, before groups walk up from the castle.

Nearby

Prague Castle is about 15 minutes’ walk east, passing the Loreto shrine. Petřín Hill begins just behind the monastery, and a path along the ridge leads to the lookout tower and the funicular down to Malá Strana. The monastery courtyard also has a brewery restaurant, a good place for lunch between the library and the castle.