It's a short, beautiful climb from the castle.
The Loreta, a Baroque Church of the Nativity, is famous for its bell tower. If you're ever in the mood to hear "A Thousand Times We Greet Thee" played by a 27-bell carillon, just stop by on the hour.
Jan Masaryk looks out over Loreta Square. He leapt to his death from a window in the Cernin Palace, right behind the statue, not long after the Allies liberated Czechoslovakia. Some Czechs believe the Communists murdered him.
Chris's friend Sue said she enjoyed her visit to the Strahov more than anything else in Prague.
It was easy to see why, especially on a perfect spring day. The monastery grounds are lovely.
They include a library and a gallery in addition to a Romanesque basilica. It was closed when I visited.
The remaining 80 monks certainly have a beautiful place to check out books. Their library consists of a Philosophical Hall and a Theological Hall. The former looks more like a traditional, if over-the-top library.
The Theological Hall does look more spiritual.
Visitors are no longer allowed to enter either library. Gorgeous architectural details, natural history cabinets and crowds of tourists who have paid extra to take photos line the hallway connecting the two.
A small display of items from the library's collection includes this fanciful map of Europe imposed, I believe, on the body of a Premonsratensian monk with the monastery placed at his heart.
I might have skipped the Strahov Gallery, which surrounds a lovely courtyard, if admission hadn't been required to see an exhibit of Kim Novak's paintings. Huh? My thoughts, exactly. Who could resist?
St. Norbert, the ascetic founder of the Premonsratensian order, was first buried in Germany. This may be his portrait.
Half a century later, after the Reformation, the monks at Strahov lobbied successfully to have St. Norbert's body moved to Prague. This exhibit illustrates the pomp of the transfer.
None of the artists or works on display were familiar.
Heaven was a lot more crowded than the galleries.
A temporary exhibit featured Russian icon painting.
I definitely needed a camp cocktail. Here's a self-portrait of Kim in the Big Eyes style.
And here's a rendering of Vertigo, the film that immortalized her. That's Hitch in profile at the left.
The Strahov overlooks both the castle and the city.
Chris and I were meeting for dinner and a concert, so I didn't have time to stop at the absinthe bar or the Church of St. Nicholas, the most famous Baroque church in Prague.
Truth be told, the Art Nouveau details along the route interested me more. There would be plenty more later in the evening.
They include a library and a gallery in addition to a Romanesque basilica. It was closed when I visited.
The remaining 80 monks certainly have a beautiful place to check out books. Their library consists of a Philosophical Hall and a Theological Hall. The former looks more like a traditional, if over-the-top library.
The Theological Hall does look more spiritual.
Visitors are no longer allowed to enter either library. Gorgeous architectural details, natural history cabinets and crowds of tourists who have paid extra to take photos line the hallway connecting the two.
A small display of items from the library's collection includes this fanciful map of Europe imposed, I believe, on the body of a Premonsratensian monk with the monastery placed at his heart.
I might have skipped the Strahov Gallery, which surrounds a lovely courtyard, if admission hadn't been required to see an exhibit of Kim Novak's paintings. Huh? My thoughts, exactly. Who could resist?
St. Norbert, the ascetic founder of the Premonsratensian order, was first buried in Germany. This may be his portrait.
Half a century later, after the Reformation, the monks at Strahov lobbied successfully to have St. Norbert's body moved to Prague. This exhibit illustrates the pomp of the transfer.
None of the artists or works on display were familiar.
A temporary exhibit featured Russian icon painting.
I definitely needed a camp cocktail. Here's a self-portrait of Kim in the Big Eyes style.
And here's a rendering of Vertigo, the film that immortalized her. That's Hitch in profile at the left.
The Strahov overlooks both the castle and the city.
Chris and I were meeting for dinner and a concert, so I didn't have time to stop at the absinthe bar or the Church of St. Nicholas, the most famous Baroque church in Prague.
Truth be told, the Art Nouveau details along the route interested me more. There would be plenty more later in the evening.
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