Plasy

Convent of the Cistercian Monastery

Submitter: Cistercian monastery in Plasy - Eugen Tyttl

Wide reconstruction work begun in the premises of the Plasy monastery already in 1685, according to the design of J. B. Mathey. He was one of the masters of the architect Santini and he most probably contributed to the first contacts of Santini with the Abbot Eugen Tyttl. In the year 1707, he came to Plasy for the first time upon the recommendation of the Sedlec Abbot Snopek and was even paid for his first works. In the year 1710, the project of fundamental reconstruction of the whole monastery premises was elaborated and approved, concerning not only the convent but also the monumental convent church that was never realized, though. Santini based the whole project on the reconstruction of the original buildings and keeping of the historical tradition, which was the original medieval convent founded with on a level of the Strela river mead. The original building was constantly in a bad condition, especially owing to changes in the sill. That is why Santini used grounding on 5100 piles carrying a grating under the foundations consisting of 500 vertical and 1173 transversal oak beams, when founding the multiply larger new building. The piles were hammered into the sill to the depth of 10-13 ells (6-8 m). The whole wooden structure is constantly inundated by water that is conveyed here via the galleries, thus preventing from the dry rot of wood.

The convent building was built on a regular square ground plan and in addition to its purpose for the convent of monks, there are also the Chapels of St Benedict and St Bernard. The Chapel of St Bernard was completed during Santini's life while the other one was completed much later and only in a simplified form. There are large hall staircases situated in the convent premises. Due to their unusual suspension, they make an impression of overhanging the water surface glistening on a level of the lower foundations below them. Regarding the smaller spiral staircases, the Santini's abstractedly clear form of the spiral curve leading through the space steeply up attracts a visitor's attention.

Further Photos

Contact:

331 01 Plasy
Phone/fax: +420 373 322 174

Opening Hours:

April *	Saturday, Sunday, holidays	9:00 - 15:00
May	Daily except Monday	9:00 - 16:00
June - August	Daily except Monday	9:00 - 17:00
September	Daily except Monday	9:00 - 16:00
October *	Saturday, Sunday, holidays	9:00 - 15:00

* On weekdays only for the pre-reserved groups above 10 persons

• The last sightseeing starts on the end of the opening hours and leads only to the convent
• Between 12.00 and 13.00: noon break
• Gallery is open only after previous reservation!

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