Sázava Monastery

The Sázava Monastery is a National Cultural Monument (1962) in the Czech Republic. It is located in the Central Bohemian Region in the town of Sázava. The Sázava Monastery is one of the oldest monasteries in Bohemia, it was founded around 1032, from which the oldest mentions come. The founders were Prince Oldřich and St. Prokop, who tried to maintain the Cyril and Methodius tradition here. At the beginning of the 11th century, the Sázava Monastery was just a wooden church. At the end of the 11th century, it received its first stone appearance. At that time, the building had two towers with bell towers – but the building still remained unfinished. From the middle of the 12th century, the Sázava Monastery underwent further reconstructions and a massive three-nave church with beautiful decorations was created. However, the peak period was the time of Charles IV, who continued with further construction. Between the 15th and 17th centuries, however, the Sázava Monastery fell into disrepair as a result of the Hussite wars. In the middle of the 17th century, it was bought back by the Benedictines, who began its Baroque reconstruction. In 1785, the Sázava Monastery was even abolished by Joseph II. At that time, it became the property of secular – chateau owners and underwent a chateau reconstruction. The current appearance of the monastery depicts the thousand-year history of the Czech Land, there are remains of wood from the first building, the remains of a Romanesque building – in today’s northern garden, Gothic elements on the Arras pillars, the Baroque style – in the reflector inside the monastery or the chateau classicist façade and lookout tower. The Sázava Monastery offers the public both tours of exteriors and interiors with a guide, as well as wedding ceremonies.