Cistercian monastery Velehrad, Cistercian pilgrimage monastery in Velehrad, Czech Republic
Cistercian monastery Velehrad is a complex featuring a basilica with two 58-meter-high towers that blend Romanesque and Baroque architectural elements. The site displays characteristics from different construction periods and stands out in the regional landscape.
The monastery was founded in 1205 and by 1230 twelve Cistercian monks had completed the original Romanesque structure. This founding period established the site as an important religious center in the Moravian region.
The site is closely tied to the veneration of Saints Cyril and Methodius, who brought Christianity to Slavic peoples. Pilgrims gather here to honor these saints through annual ceremonies that shape the spiritual life of the place.
Visitors can book guided tours through the Information Center, which offers exhibitions on the site's architectural and religious history. The complex is well accessible and informative displays help guide you through the different areas.
The monastery lapidarium preserves late-Romanesque architectural fragments from the original 13th-century structure. These stone pieces have been open to public viewing since 1937 and reveal details of the early construction method.
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