National Library of the Czech Republic in Clementinum, Prague. The most beautiful libraries in Prague Places to work during the day, weekdays

On its own, the Clementinum should become a must-see in terms of sightseeing. Of course, this place is not included in excursions in Prague in Russian, but even with Russian-language booklets in your hands, you will be greatly impressed by what you see. To begin with, you can familiarize yourself with Clementinum in absentia.

Pearl of Prague

Charles Bridge, Tyn Palace - all these wonderful architectural monuments are undoubtedly associated with the amazingly beautiful capital of the Czech Republic. But no description of the sights of Prague would be complete without a unique architectural complex, a wonderful example of the magnificent Baroque style, proudly located in the center of the historical city, not far from the Charles Bridge. We are talking about the Clementinum, the famous temple of science and art, created several centuries ago by the mysterious Jesuits.

Stronghold of the Jesuits

In the middle of the 16th century, representatives of the famous Jesuit order appeared in Prague, with the light hand of Ferdinand I, who were supposed to assist him in the confrontation with the Reformation. Their home was the former Dominican monastery of St. Clement, built in the 11th century near the Charles Bridge in Old Town. It was here that members of the fraternity founded a Jesuit college, which became one of the largest of its kind.

The Jesuits, who strove for the widespread dissemination of the Catholic faith, rapidly grew rich and increased their power. They transformed the small monastery into a grandiose complex of baroque buildings, unsurpassed in its beauty and grandeur. The construction boom continued from 1622 until the middle of the 18th century. Clementinum flourished along with the Jesuit order.

In 1622, Clementinum and Charles University, considered one of the most important educational institutions in the Czech Republic, were reunited by the Jesuits. Together there were colossal libraries, for which a separate building was built.

Since 1654, the newly-founded university was called Carlo-Ferdinand University, until in the 19th century it was divided into Czech and German.

What is included in the Prague Clementinum complex?

The Clementinum in Prague has been modified many times. More and more halls and churches were added, and magnificent gardens were laid out. But this complex has survived to this day in excellent condition and is now an interesting example of late Baroque, second in scale after another grandiose historical complex - Prague Castle.

Lovers of history, architecture and painting simply need to visit the following places:

• Mirror chapel.
• University library.
• Astronomical tower.
• Church of Christ the Savior.
• Mathematical Museum.
• Meridian room.

Due to the fact that there are very few excursions in Russian in Prague, each tourist is given a booklet in his native language. And even in these circumstances, the beauty, wealth and elegance of the ancient premises will not be diminished in the least.

Chapel in honor of the Virgin Mary

The Mirror Chapel, erected in 1724, is an amazing combination of an ancient religious symbol and a magnificent concert hall.

The chapel received its name for the decoration of its interior. The walls of the architectural masterpiece are lined with floor-to-ceiling mirrors, and the hemispherical ceiling molding also contains mirror elements that reflect the stars of the magnificent marble floor. All this creates an incomparable feeling of infinity and lightness of space.

The beautiful frescoes on the ceiling are dedicated to biblical events associated with the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary. Previously, in the depths of the chapel there was a rich altar, which currently replaces the organ from the ancient work of the late 18th century. The chapel has another organ, located closer to the entrance. The age of this extraordinary musical instrument is even more respectable, because it was created by masters at the end of the eighteenth century. It is also famous for the fact that it remembers the great Mozart, who played this instrument during his stay in Prague.

Thanks to its unsurpassed acoustic properties, the chapel has become a venue for classical music concerts. The uniqueness of the chapel also lies in the fact that the two organs in it can sound absolutely in unison, which is rare for such instruments.

Temple of Science and Art

The reorganized Jesuit library, now the National Library of the Czech Republic, is a place that simply cannot be ignored when talking about the Clementinum of Prague.

The building of this unique library, a pearl, was erected in 1727. Currently, the library's collection includes hundreds of thousands of priceless books, including handwritten ones. Bookshelves from floor to ceiling are literally bursting with an abundance of valuable volumes, most of which are written in Latin, German and Italian.

The ceiling of the hall is decorated with skillfully executed frescoes symbolizing Science and Art. In the very center of the ceiling is the famous fresco "Temple of Wisdom" by Joseph Dibel.

The book hall is also notable for its collection of ancient rare globes, geographic and star maps created by the Jesuits. Unfortunately, it is not possible to examine them in detail due to limited access to the hall.

Of course, the rarest volumes are available only to specialists, and only with individual permission, but the Clementinum in Prague is also equipped with a reading room that immerses its visitors in the unforgettable atmosphere of the 18th century Baroque.

Visegrad Code

And although you won’t be able to look through a copy of an ancient book in the library’s book room, you shouldn’t be upset. In the small foyer, preceding the hall with books, an exact copy of the rarest 11th-century manuscript - the Visegrad Codex - is exhibited especially for lovers of antiquity.

The Visegrad Code (also called the Coronation Code), created in 1086, is dedicated to the enthronement of the first Czech king, Vratislav II. One of the rarest and most valuable manuscripts in the Czech Republic is a collection of gospels and theological texts. The significance of this manuscript is so great that it was insured for 1 billion crowns.

The Clementinum in Prague is simply a treasure trove of historical rarities that are found everywhere here. So, next to the Visegrad Codex, in the library foyer you can see the astronomical instrument of the famous Kepler - the sextant, which helped the scientist in his scientific research.

Astronomy tower

If you are still looking for something to see in Prague on your own, then without a doubt, head to the Clementinum Astronomical Tower.

The tower was erected in 1723 by order of Chancellor Frantisek Retz. At the top of its dome there is a figure of Atlas with a celestial sphere in his hands. From the middle of the 18th century, it acquired the status of an observatory and became a center for astronomical, meteorological and mathematical research. There is a most interesting exhibition of telescopes, mathematical and astronomical instruments. One of the attractions of the Clementinum of Prague and the Astronomical Tower is the ancient hourglass, which is still perfectly accurate.

In 1928, astronomical research began to be carried out in the new observatory, and since 1939, only meteorological observations relevant to modern Central Europe have been recorded in the tower.

The observation deck of the tower, located at an altitude of 50 m, is a real find for visitors. Climbing here along a narrow spiral staircase, you can contemplate a beautiful view of the historical center of Prague, located in full view.

Unfortunately, in the last decades of the last century, the Astronomical Tower was closed to tourists. Only in 2000, the architectural monument of the 18th century, which has come down to us in its original form, was cleared of rubbish and rodents and made available to the public again.

Meridian room

In the Old Town Square, near the monument to Jan Hus, there is a paved line that differs from the paving of the rest of the square. This is the Prague meridian. The fact is that at astronomical noon, the shadow of a column located not far from this line falls exactly on it. This was the warning to the townspeople that noon had arrived.

A room in one of the towers of the Clementinum is named after this meridian. Only its prototype here is a string stretched across the entire room. As soon as noon comes, a ray of sunlight, peeking through a tiny hole in the wall, crosses this string. This served as a signal to alert the townspeople that noon had arrived. Until 1918, this honorable mission was carried out by a tower cannon by firing a shot, and later a sign was simply given from the tower by waving a flag.

Church of the Holy Savior

During the heyday of the Jesuit Order, this most valuable monument of early Baroque architecture was considered the main temple of the Order. It was built on the site of a former Dominican monastery.

What kind of trials did the church have to endure! During the Hussite uprising, it was burned to the ground, and then restored by the rich Jesuits. The greatest architects and artists took part in its long construction and decoration: Carlo Lurago, Francesco Caratti, Giovanni Bartolomeo Cometa and many others.

Before entering the church, tourists are greeted by an artistic colonnade, painted by the unsurpassed Giovanni Cometa, and from the portico, skillful sculptures of the church fathers, saints of the Jesuit order, Christ and the Virgin Mary are greeted. The artistic plasterwork and confessionals decorated with statues of the 12 apostles amaze with their elegance and beauty.

Excellent organ concerts are also held here, which are appreciated not only among local residents, but also among numerous tourists.

Curious facts

It's interesting to know that:

• Several centuries ago, a Jesuit named Conias burned 30,000 volumes of books considered “heretical” in the local library.
• According to legend, the Jesuits arrived in the city with a single book and only then collected a huge library collection.
• In 2005, the Clementinum Library received a special UNESCO Memory of the World prize.
• A small portion of the ancient manuscripts was provided to Google to be scanned and made publicly available on Google Books.
• Since January 2017, the Clementinum has been closed for 2 years for large-scale restoration.

The capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, is home to one of the most stunning libraries in the world: the Clementinum Library. The beautiful Baroque building was first opened in 1722. The Clementinum was once known as the third largest Jesuit college in the world.

Today the library occupies a huge area of ​​20,000 square meters and stores more than 22,000 rare books. When you step inside, it's not hard to see why this is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Amazing frescoes even cover the ceiling, and even the smallest detail of the interior is pure art. The frescoes on the ceiling were painted by Jan Hybl, who depicted allegorical motifs of education and portraits of Jesuit saints - patrons of the university and famous representatives of this order.


In addition to its unique interior, the library is rightfully proud of the rarest historical book collection. A small part of it was provided to Google for scanning, and is now available in the Google Books service to an even larger audience.






In fact, the Clementinum is a historical complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently it included the National University and the Technical Libraries, as well as the City Library. The Technical Library and the Municipal Library have been moved to the Prague National Technical Library since 2009. It is now used as the National Library of the Czech Republic. In 2005, the Czech National Library received the UNESCO JIKJI (Memory of the World) prize.

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.

Every student or great lover of printed literature knows how valuable the ability to use state libraries is. Below we would like to say a few words about those in the Czech Republic, and explain how you can gain access to public libraries in Prague.

Městská knihovna - State Library

Národní knihovna České republiky – National Library of the Czech Republic

Národní technická knihovna – National Technical Library

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 of them in total): a mirror chapel, an observatory, a mathematical museum, a weather station and, of course, a luxurious library, which cannot but be mentioned 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.