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.

Founded in 1205 on the initiative of Olomouc bishop Robert and margrave Vladislav Jindřich, the monastery received twelve monks from Plasy led by abbot Thezil. The Romanesque convent church was consecrated on 27 November 1228 by bishop Robert, in the presence of King Přemysl Otakar I. Hussites burned the monastery on 12 January 1421, killing the abbot and four monks.

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.