Rosa Coeli monastery, Monastery ruins in Dolní Kounice, Czech Republic

Rosa Coeli is a monastery ruin with Gothic walls and a Baroque residence on the eastern edge of Dolní Kounice, above the Jihlava River valley. The church ruin still shows parts of the old walls and arches, while the Baroque building now serves as an exhibition space and visitor center.

A Moravian nobleman named Wilhelm founded the convent in 1181 as penance for destruction in Austria and brought Premonstratensian nuns from Louňovice here. Over the centuries the building was rebuilt several times, until the church was abandoned as a ruin in the 19th century.

The Latin name means Rose of Heaven and points to the devotion to the Virgin Mary, to whom the convent was dedicated. During a visit today, you can read the different building phases, from the original Gothic work to the later Baroque changes.

Guided tours must be booked four working days in advance and run during certain months, with audio guides and printed materials providing the main information. The tour leads through the open church ruin and the rooms in the Baroque house, while part of the grounds is also freely accessible.

The Baroque residence now houses exhibitions on the monastery history and medieval book art. The site attracted more visitors in 2022 than in previous years, making it a growing destination for travelers in the region.