Zeliv

Monastery Church of the Nativity of Virgin Mary

Submitters: Premonstrate monastery in Zeliv - the Abbot Jeronym Hlina

The Gothic basilica of the monastery church in Zeliv grew up by the reconstruction of the original Romanesque building in the late 14^th century. After being destroyed by the Hussites it was renewed again. After a large fire in the year 1712, the abbot began to look for an architect and designer to modify the church. Santini came to Zeliv in the year 1714 in order to elaborate a project and to survey the construction consequently, until the year 1720 when the church was completed. Santini's task in Zeliv was different from the one in Sedlec or Kladruby before, where interpretation of the originally medieval shrine in spirit of the baroque Gothic was concerned. In Zeliv, he was supposed to complete the new part of the building and attach it to the repaired Gothic chancel.

The axis of the church is optically prolonged by means of a forward vestibule and side towers. A Gothic monstrance set according to Santini's design in 1719 is located between the towers. The space architecture of the interior was designed in a complicated way. It is divided into 3 naves separated from each other by means of hung-up suspension voussoirs making an impression of a fantastic fragility in spite of their mass, as well as the insights into the upper level near the large side windows. Similarly to a number of other Santini's buildings, just these elements can be explicated as a path towards the light.

Further Photos

Contact:

Monastery
394 44 Zeliv 122, CZ
Phone: +420 565 581 193

Sightseeing of the monastery and the church:

In the summer:

Monday - Saturday	10:00 - 15:00
Sunday	15:00

Time of sightseeing: 30 minutes - 60 minutes

Sightseeing beyond the appointed time or for more than 15 persons (pilgrimage fairs, collective tours, school trips) must be announced in advance to the phone number +420 565 581 193 or to the e-mail prior@zeliv.cz

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