Strahov Monastery (Strahovsky kláster)

Founded at the behest of Vladislav II by Premonastratensian monks in 1140, the Strahov Monastery - originally known as Mount Sion - quickly became Bohemia's most important centre for theological study and learning. Despite being attacked by Jan Zizka's Hussites in the 14th century and the rampaging Swedish in 1648, the monks amassed an ecclesiastical library of unparalleled size, whilst also educating leading nobles and political figures of the time.

Because of the monastery's popularity - and the wealth that accompanied it, the monks were able to construct two splendid libraries. The first was the Theological Hall, built between 1671 and 1679 by G.D Orsi. Adorned at its centre by 17th-century globes, the hall features an impressive stuccoed ceiling, with lavish frescoes by Siard Nosecký to represent the theme of human knowledge.

Just over a century later the larger - and even grander - Philosophical Hall was added (built from 1782 1784). Dominated by Maulbertsch's ceiling fresco 'Struggle of Mankind to Gain True Wisdom', the hall is enriched still further by its carved walnut (floor to ceiling) shelves holding over 40,000 books.

Elsewhere, the Church of Our Lady is a 17th-century Baroque remodelling of an original 12th century ground plan, while the Strahov Picture Gallery boasts a number of impressive works including Spranger's Resurrection of Christ and Dirck de Quade's van Ravesteyn's Allegory of the Reign of Rudolph II.