Nová Říše, Premonstratensian monastery in Nová Říše, Czech Republic.
Nová Říše is a Premonstratensian abbey located in the village of the same name in the Vysočina region of the Czech Republic. The complex groups a baroque church, residential wings arranged around courtyards, and a library holding old manuscripts and documents.
The abbey was founded in the 13th century and grew over the following centuries through several building phases, including a broad baroque reconstruction in the late 17th century. In the 20th century it was seized by the communist regime and put to other uses, before the monastic community was able to return after 1989.
The monastery served as a center for preserving regional artistic traditions and knowledge over many centuries. Its library and collections influenced local craftsmanship and design practices that continue to be recognized in the area today.
The abbey sits in a small village, so arriving by your own vehicle is the most practical option. Some parts of the complex remain reserved for the active monastic community, so it is worth checking in advance which areas are open to visitors.
The abbey library holds books and manuscripts that were hidden or moved during the communist period to prevent them from being lost or destroyed. Some of these works were returned to their original location after 1989, giving the collection a history of its own that runs alongside the history of the building.
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