Founded by Vladislav I in 1140, the complex was originally planned as a final resting place for all Czech rulers; fate decided that it was only Vladislav and his wife who were to be buried there. In 1420 the building was plundered by Hussites, the monastic order shattered. Unluckily, after much gradual and costly renovation, the monastery was badly damaged in 1742 by the French and in the 1950s the Communist regime ordered an end to monastic activity. Although use of the complex recommenced in 1989, restoration continues to this day.
The sporadic attitude to the monastery’s renovation has resulted in it representing a variety of archeological styles: its white facade and green cupolas are Baroque, while the rest of the building was constructed in the Romanesque and Gothic fashions.
The most beautiful room in the monastery is certainly the Summer Refectory, built in 1687. It features 18th century oil paintings of the monastery’s contemporary luminaries, which hang underneath a magnificent fresco, the “Heavenly Banquet of the Just with Christ as the Host” (1728- 1731, by Siard Nosecký).
The Strahov Premonstratensians are particularly proud of their priceless library, which is just behind the monastery building. Inside lies a large collection of antique books, maps, globes, graphics and paintings, which are divided between the richly decorated Theological Hall and the Philosophical Hall. Another attraction of the library building is the Cabinet of Curiosities, which is a collection of mainly sea fauna. It also features minerals, wax fruits, archeological finds, and so forth.To the left of the monastery building lies The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady. Its interior, dating from 1744, was painted in the Baroque style by Neunhertz. Beside the huge main altar is a motif of the Virgin Mary and also scenes from the life of St. Norbert, the founder of the Premonstratensian order. Interestingly, Mozart himself took advantage of the church's great acoustics and improvised a melody there. This was transcribed and later published as the Strahov Variation.
