Strahov Monastery, Prague

Although its eye-catching spires rise imposingly over the city's skyline, the main attraction of Strahov Monastery remains its library, containing thousands of editions of the Bible. Established in the 1140s for the Premonstratensian religious order, the monastery functioned until 1950, when the Communist regime closed it down and imprisoned most of its monks. Returned to the order in 1989, the monastery underwent massive architectural restorations to repair damage caused by years of neglect. Inside the monastery's main gate, you can visit a 17th-century church, housing a valuable collection of artworks from the Gothic era, and the famed library's two halls. Linked by an elaborately decorated passage, the two halls contain a collection of nearly 3,000 original manuscripts. Put Strahov Monastery into our Prague day trip planning app to see other points of interest to visit during your vacation in Prague.