History
The Břevnov Monastery is the oldest monastery for men in Bohemia.
It was founded in 993 by Prince Boleslav II and the Prague bishop St. Adalbert.
St. Adalbert, inspired by his stay in Benedictine monasteries in Italy, brought the first community of monks to Bohemia from Niederaltaich in Lower Bavaria. According to legend, the monastery was founded at the Brusnice spring, where St. Adalbert removed a crossbeam (Czech: břevno) preventing the animals from drinking, and the place was named Břevnov.
The monastery became a centre of spiritual life, education and economic activity.
The current Baroque complex, built in the 18th century according to plans by Kryštof and Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, is protected as a national cultural monument.
In 1993, the Břevnov Monastery was elevated to the status of an archabbey by Pope John Paul II.
