Strahov Monastery and Library

After lunch, we took a tram up the hill to the Strahov Monastery. Built in 1140, the monastery houses one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.



The library was built in the seventeenth century by Abbot Jeroným Hirnhaim, who in addition to theology also studied botany and other sciences.



Hirnhaim was quite radical for his time, and after his death many of his writings were deemed "Libri Prohibiti" -- forbidden books. Libri Prohibiti were kept in the compartment behind the gold doors.

The frescos in the library were painted in the 1720s, and depict Bible scenes and proverbs. The books are arranged in the baroque organizational style.



The original card catalog was recorded in two volumes, which are preserved here.



Books were bleached or painted white in order to more visibly print the title and author, and call number.


This is the Abbot himself. As mentioned above, he and many of the monks were also interested in scientific pursuits. They maintained in particular a collection of preserved or skeletal sea animals and shells; being in a land-locked nation, most Czechs had never seen such fantastical creatures.


Randomly amongst the sea creatures is this armadillo, which I include as a shout-out to Jenny J.


Even back then, library rules were necessary to keep order. I don't know how to say "walk!" in Czech, but I have a feeling it's written in there somewhere.