Osek Monastery, Cistercian monastery in Osek, Czech Republic
Osek Monastery is a Cistercian monastery in Osek featuring a mix of Romanesque and Baroque architecture spread across a substantial complex. The buildings show layers of construction from different periods, reflecting how the community expanded and rebuilt the site over centuries.
The monastery was founded in 1196 by Cistercian monks and suffered severe destruction during the Hussite Wars. These conflicts left lasting marks that reshaped the complex's appearance and structure.
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary features an early Gothic chapter hall with a stone reading pulpit where the monastic community gathered. The space still conveys how monks organized their daily life around such ceremonial rooms.
The monastery welcomes visitors and offers guided tours through its different areas. It is helpful to check tour availability beforehand, as access to certain rooms depends on visiting times.
Between 1950 and 1989, the complex served as an internment camp for clergy, later being repurposed as a charitable home. This lesser-known chapter reveals how the grounds played a very different role during difficult years before returning to religious use.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
