Zbraslav Monastery
If you read in old chronicles or historical novels about the Přemyslid period, you will surely come across the name Zbraslav. The Zbraslav monastery and later the chateau are inseparable from the history of the Czech state. An extensive monastery complex grew out of the hunting yard here, which over time turned into a chateau.
Information for visitors
Interesting facts Zbraslav Monastery
Only part of the lock is accessible
In the premises of the rebuilt monastery, it was possible to see the exhibitions of the National Gallery, for example, it housed a collection of Asian art. The castle was also a popular place for wedding ceremonies, but these are no longer possible, the castle returned to the hands of the original owners. It is possible to visit the chateau garden and the accessible part of the chateau. The complex is entered through an English park with rich sculptural decoration.
The castle has a long history
In Zbraslav, you will certainly be interested in the ancient history of the place. Where today's premises of the monastery stand, was in the time of King Přemysl Otakar II. built a hunting yard. Přemysl's son Wenceslas II. he founded a Cistercian monastery here. A church with a royal burial ground was built here, where, for example, Wenceslas II lies. An abbey house was built in the 13th century and the construction of the church began. Wenceslas' daughter Eliška Přemyslovna had the church completed. Then more buildings were added. The Hussites burned down Zbraslav, during the Thirty Years' War the monastery was demolished. The monastery was then enlarged in the Baroque period. After the abolition of the monastery, a sugar factory operated here. The whole complex was later converted into a chateau, after the expropriation the collections of the National Gallery were located here. The castle was returned to the former owners in restitutions and the exhibitions were relocated. There were many valuable statues in the castle park as well, but they also had to change their habitat.
The legend of the king and clay pots
An interesting legend tells of King Wenceslas III, a young man who lived a depraved life and distributed a handful of royal property. When Václav was standing over his father's grave, the abbot of Zbraslav, Konrád, spoke to him and read to him his way of life. Wenceslas was ashamed and promised improvement - and began by naming the clay pots the names of the nobles and hammering them in their presence, blaming them for how much royal property they had lured him away. The gentlemen understood and returned the property. However, Wenceslas was soon murdered in Olomouc and the Přemyslid family died by the sword.
Author: Helena Syslová