Library in Prague, Czech Republic. National Library of the Czech Republic in Clementinum, Prague

The history of the first public library in Prague is quite long, dating back to July 1, 1891. With the increase in the number of publications, the library had to move several times. By the beginning of the 20s of the 19th century, the library consisted of about 260 thousand volumes and expanded further. The premises no longer met the ever-increasing demands. In 1923, the Prague City Insurance Company was […]

History of the first public libraries in Prague is quite long, it is calculated from July 1, 1891. With the increase in the number of publications, the library had to move several times. By the beginning of the 20s of the 19th century, the library consisted of about 260 thousand volumes and expanded further. The premises no longer met the ever-increasing demands. In 1923, the Prague City Insurance Company decided to build a new building for the library. Construction began in 1925 according to the architect's design F. Roita, and ended in 1928. The old library building was destroyed, but in its place two underground lecture halls still exist to this day.

The design of the new building was made in accordance with the increasing requirements of the library. In addition to storage facilities and reading rooms, there is a cultural center with facilities for concerts, exhibitions and lectures.

The most interesting thing is that in the building municipal library The residence of the Mayor of Prague is located, it occupies approximately a fifth of the premises, in addition to the service apartment, the residence contains premises for official ceremonies and meetings. In the mid-90s of the last century, a global reconstruction was carried out in the library, and now municipal library (Městská knihovna) is a modern library complex providing any information service.

Mariánské náměstí 1, Prague 1, Czech Republic (entrance from Valentinská street)
mlp.cz

Take the metro to Staroměstská station

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Prague is rich in a wide variety of attractions and places that you, as a guest of the Czech capital, simply must visit. But today we will talk about the Clementinum - a whole complex of Baroque buildings that once housed a Jesuit college and now houses the National Library of the Czech Republic. The complex is spread over a huge area and is the second largest after Prague Castle.

It includes several public buildings dating back to the 18th century:

• • Mirror Chapel (built in 1724)
  • Mathematical Museum (erected in 1752)

• Astronomical Observatory (1722)
• University Library (1727)
• The weather station, which was the first in Central Europe, was opened in 1751. Since 1775, temperature measurements have been taken here daily; Here the great scientist Kepler discovered the laws of planetary motion.

Outstanding masters of the Habsburg Baroque worked on the design of each building: Frantisek Kanka, Kilian Dinzinghofer, and Carlo Lurago.

The name “Clementinum” is most closely associated with the name of St. Clement (Clement), in whose honor a chapel was erected on this site in the 11th century. The Dominican Order soon built its monastery near it.

Clementinum in the 16th century

In the 16th century, the Jesuit order became increasingly influential. Already in 1552 in Prague they built the Jesuit College (by the end of the 17th century it had become one of the largest centers for training Jesuits in the world). In the same century, the Jesuits tried to strengthen the Catholic faith by arriving at the monastery of St. Clement. As the importance and wealth of the order increased, so did the importance of the Clementinum, which soon became a real competitor to the Carolinum, considered the core of the legendary Charles University.

17th century in the history of the complex

Despite the fact that in the first third of the 17th century the Jesuits were expelled from Carolinum and Clementinum, they successfully returned here in 1620 to prove their power and influence with renewed vigor. Upon their return, they moved the priceless library of Charles University to the Clementinum.

The influence and wealth of the Jesuits allowed them to purchase land around the Clementinum, gradually erecting new buildings and planting gardens on it. As a result, 2 gardens and 30 buildings, including churches, became part of the complex, which was designed in the Baroque style. During Classicism, the buildings were enlarged and modernized.

Library in Baroque style

The Baroque library, created here in 1722, has not been altered and reflects the structure of libraries of that time. It is considered one of the most beautifully decorated rooms in the entire complex. The hall, where hundreds of thousands of valuable books are stored, is decorated with frescoes by master Joseph Dibel, which depict Art and Science. The paintings placed on the dome of the library represent the Temple of Wisdom.

If you look over the windows, you can see images of famous Jesuits in the triangles. The center of the hall is decorated with huge globes.

• Clementinum was once recognized as the third largest Jesuit college in the world;
• One of the Jesuits, Conias, burned about 30,000 volumes of “heretical publications” here;
• During the Revolution of 1848, the complex served as a fortress for students;
• There is a version that after, on the instructions of the Pope, the Jesuit Order was dissolved in 1773, the Jesuits walled up their wealth in one of the cellars of the Clementinum;
• The Jesuits brought only one book with them to Prague. During the reconstruction of the library, this figure was increased to 20 thousand copies.
• In 2005, Clementinum was included in the Memory of the World register.

The building of the Prague City Library belongs to the municipality - anyone can visit the institution. There is no need to pay an entrance fee, electronic communications are free, as are the reading rooms. A library card is only needed if the visitor plans to take the book with him.

This library has an extensive literary collection, exhibits contemporary art and organizes concerts - it is a full-fledged cultural institution. And the building itself is an architectural landmark and has a rich history. Moreover, the institution has several branches of a non-standard format: branches operate in trucks, which are, in fact, mobile libraries.

History of the Prague Library

The Prague Public Library welcomed its first book lovers on July 1, 1891. Then she was located in another place and subsequently moved more than once. As a result, a once residential building located on the corner of Platner Street and Marianska Square and built in the Empire style was given over to the institution.

By 1922, the book collection reached approximately 250,000 volumes, and the following year the capital's insurance company decided to build its own separate premises for the establishment. Its opening was planned to coincide with the tenth anniversary of independent Czechoslovakia. The design of the new library building was designed by architect František Royt; construction began in 1925 and lasted three years. The opening ceremony took place on October 28, 1928.

The previous library building was demolished, but the basement rooms survived and have survived to this day - they are now occupied by lecture halls.

Architectural features and interior

While working on the model of the new library building, František Royt decided to resort to the neoclassical style - this made it possible to create a large and multifunctional public space. Thanks to this approach, the building was suitable for storing a book collection, and for organizing exhibitions, and for holding musical performances, and for open lectures.

In the design of the facade, Royt combined classical articulation with the restraint of modernism - the building turned out to be externally harmonious. The corner parts of the house, equipped with a balcony balustrade and an impressive entrance, open onto the sidewalk in an arcade. The building is decorated with allegory sculptures created by Ladislav Karfanek.

The design of the interior space was carried out by famous masters of that era. Thus, the ceiling of the main hall was painted by Frantisek Kisela and looks especially original. The outstanding decoration of the house was the decorative grilles created by Karel Stiepl, a sculptor and architect. And the artist and graphic artist Josef Seipka worked on the stained glass windows.

Interiors with original, original design can now be found in the information center of the library and its theater department. Despite the fact that the designers did not skimp on decorative elements, in general the interior is decorated simply, unobtrusively and remains appropriate, meeting the purpose of the building.

The neoclassical building of the public library fits well with the architectural ensemble of the location where it is located. In the immediate vicinity are the early Baroque Clementinum and the New Town Hall, built in the Secession style. These three buildings form a single and integral architectural group, where each building emphasizes the stylistic features of the others.

Arrangement and modernization of the library

Since the building was in a certain sense ahead of its time, its full potential was realized in the seventies. During 1996–1998, modernization was carried out, caused by new requirements of the time: rooms for working with multimedia and computer equipment appeared.
A couple of years earlier, library visitors received exhibition spaces at their disposal, and after all the reconstruction in the late nineties, the gallery was equipped with a new entrance.

Curious facts

The library building is the second largest among Prague buildings; excursions are even offered here. It is noteworthy not only for its design and collection of books, but also for its significance for the social and political life of the Czech capital. The fact is that 20% of the premises of the house are occupied by the residence of the mayor.

At the entrance to the building there is an unusual sculptural composition representing eight thousand volumes that are glued together. There are mirrors in the lower and upper parts - they create a spatial effect and visually enlarge the book tower many times over.

The Prague Public Library adorns the city space, combining modernity and classicism - in this way it is similar to Prague itself. A stylish and characteristic building always attracts the attention of tourists and leaves a good impression on excursionists.

How to get there

The closest metro station to the library is Staroměstská. The nearby tram stop has the same name, where daytime trams No. 2, 17, 18 and night trams No. 93 go.

The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, has a wide variety of attractions and places that every tourist needs to visit. One of these treasures of Prague is the Clementinum - a whole group of buildings in the Baroque style, in ancient times it housed the Jesuit College, and now it houses the National Library of the Czech Republic. All buildings of the complex are located on a huge territory, and this complex is considered the second largest in terms of area after Prague Castle.

At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the Clementinum complex in Prague was considered a Dominican monastery, but during the period of hostilities, the monks’ home was quite destroyed, and all the buildings were in a dilapidated state for a long time.

In the mid-sixteenth century, the monastery building came into the possession of the Jesuits. Architect Wohlmut began work on the complex. Under his leadership, the monastery building expanded, with the addition of additional premises, the area of ​​the complex was also expanded. Designers from the province followed the exact instructions of the Roman generals, represented by the leading architect Karl Lurago.

Reconstruction of the complex continued until the order was dissolved at the end of the eighteenth century. The complex now has a large number of rooms for conducting lessons, a library, a theater studio, and even a printing house, which for two hundred years was the only one in the Czech Republic. At the end of the eighteenth century, all the buildings were in the possession of the archbishop's seminarians, and all the buildings were converted from the Baroque style to the early classicism style.

The entire ensemble consists of a series of closed two-story buildings with five courtyards. The main advantages of the Clementinum are: the astronomical and clock tower, as well as the structure of the printing house. Also be sure to look at the baroque-style sundial and the fountain-reservoir.

The interior of the classrooms is done in a restrained style, but the public places that promote faith are decorated with various types of artistic creativity. All rooms have remarkably preserved their original appearance.

One of the main parts of the ensemble is the Church of the Holy Savior, as well as a valuable shrine of the Jesuits. The most significant details in the church are considered to be the painting “four parts of the world” and the central altar. The interior is very beautifully decorated with sculptures and decorative elements. All members of the Jesuit order were buried in the church crypt.

The Cathedral of St. Clement was designed by the architects Luargo and Kanka. It has a strict façade, but the interior design is very beautiful. Paintings depicting scenes from the life of Clementius, painted by Gibel, divide the ceiling into four parts, the central altar is made of marble. The carved elements of Brown, the paintings of Brundle and others look very beautiful. The iconostasis was changed at the end of the twentieth century, ten pillars are considered a symbol of the apostles with the royal doors, the New and Old Testaments. But it doesn’t look very nice against the background of the overall interior. Now the church is considered an active Greek Catholic Church.

The most beautiful library in Prague today

Nowadays, the Clementinum complex houses the world-famous National Library, which at the beginning of the twentieth century underwent significant reconstruction; the most valuable books and manuscripts are stored here.

If you have a desire, then climb the Astronomical Tower, it is 68 meters high, when you climb to the very top, you will be able to look at the delightful old Prague from above. There is an elevator inside the tower that will take you to the height of the third floor. To get to the observation deck, you need to climb 87 very winding steps. But when you do it, you won't regret it.

At the beginning of the eighteenth century, the Hall of Mirrors was built, it was created by the famous Prague architect, German by birth, Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer. The Hall of Mirrors was so named because mirrors were built into the stucco moldings and walls.

It is noteworthy that this hall houses two organ instruments, an amazing phenomenon - the acoustic sounds are simply amazing. And these organs can play at the same time.

And it is clear that such acoustics should be used; concert programs are held in this hall, where classical music is played, and wedding celebrations are also celebrated here (this hall can accommodate up to 150 people).

In order to visit the mirror chapel, you must register in advance.

The Meridian Room was named after the Prague meridian, which is shown as a stretched arrow on the floor. There is a small hole in the wall and the sun's rays, falling through it, cross the arrow at astronomical noon. Today in this room you can look at the exhibition of astronomical instruments of past centuries.

Address on the map

The Clementinum in Prague has several entrances:

The first entrance is located at the following address: Karlova 1, Prague

The second entrance is located at the following address: Mariánské nám. 5, Prague

The third entrance is located at the following address: Křižovnická 190, Prague - you cannot temporarily enter through this entrance.

How to get there

You can get to Clementinum by taking bus number 194, which stops at the Mariánské náměstí stop. Also nearby is the Staroměstská station (green line A) and a tram stop, where trams numbers 1, 2, 17, 18, 25 and 93 go; you need to go to the Clementinum stop.

Opening hours

Clementinum was closed in January 2017 for reconstruction, presumably for two years. Only the Mirror Hall is open to the public, where concert programs are held.

• January-March: from 10:00 to 16:00;
• April-October: from 10:00 to 20:00;
• November-December: from 10:00 to 18:00.

From 10:00 every half hour there are guided tours (in Czech and English, there are also booklets in Russian) accompanied by a guide. The duration of the entire excursion is 45 minutes.

Cost of visit

In order to visit the Clementinum, you must pay the entrance fee:

• A full price ticket will cost 220 CZK;
• For a family consisting of one or two adults and up to three children, the entrance ticket costs 500 CZK;
• For children aged eight to eighteen years old, admission costs 140 CZK;
• Entrance to the Clementinum is free for students and disabled people;
• For children under seven years of age admission is free.

Official site

All necessary information is provided on the Clementinum website.

Prague is a real treasure trove of medieval architectural masterpieces. However, among them there are those that stand out even against the backdrop of such incredible diversity. One of the pearls of the Czech capital is a whole complex of buildings in the Baroque style, which today houses the National Library of the Czech Republic, a small museum and a concert hall.

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The history, which began in the 11th century, is like a reflection of a variety of events that took place in Prague. Originally there was a small chapel in honor of St. Clement on this site, hence the name. Gradually, a whole monastery was formed around it - a refuge for the Dominican Order. In the 16th century, the political and religious situation in Prague changed dramatically and power passed into the hands of the Jesuits, who turned Clementinum into the center of Catholicism. In the 17th century, the Jesuits were expelled from Prague, but they soon returned and their influence became even stronger. And along with it, the importance of the complex increased not only in the religious but also in the public life of the city. The library of Charles University was moved here and the once small chapel turned into a real Temple of Science.

Gradually, the importance of the Jesuit order increased, and with it the treasury grew richer. The lands around Clementinum were bought up, the territory grew, and more and more luxurious buildings in the Baroque style were erected on it. Naturally, they were designed by the best architects of that time. At the same time, they managed to achieve amazing unity - the complex looks very harmonious. Several civil buildings of the 18th century have survived to this day (there were more than 30 in total): a mirror chapel, an observatory, a mathematical museum, a weather station and, of course, a luxurious library, which cannot be ignored separately.

Library in Baroque style

The Clementinum library is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Created in 1722, it has undergone virtually no changes - visitors can see with their own eyes how book depositories were structured in those distant times and feel the spirit of the 18th century. The walls and ceiling of the library are decorated with frescoes by Joseph Dibel, united by a common theme - science and art. For some similarity with church paintings (although, of course, a very relative similarity), it is often called the Temple of Wisdom. The center of the hall is decorated with huge globes.

On massive wooden shelves there is a huge number of books, including rare and even unique ones. The most valuable exhibits are located on the upper levels, away from prying eyes. Here you can find both handwritten and first printed editions. True, it is very difficult to gain access to them - special permissions are required for this.

Opening hours and ticket prices

Currently, the Clementinum is under restoration (tentatively until 2019); only the Hall of Mirrors, where concerts are periodically held, is accessible to the public. Before the closure, the complex worked according to the following schedule: from 10-00 to 20-00 in the summer season (from April to October), from 10-00 to 18-00 in November-December and from 10-00 to 16-00 in January -March. Whether this schedule will continue in the future is unknown. The cost of the excursion was 220 CZK for an adult, 140 for students. There were also family passes costing 500 CZK. Perhaps, after the completion of restoration work, something will change in this matter.

How to get there

The Clementinum complex is located in the center of Prague, at Marianske namesti building 5, near Charles Bridge. You can get to it by metro, the nearest station is Staromestska, or by tram - the stop is also called, routes 2,17,18 and night route 93 pass through it.