Museum of Literature in Moravia

The Museum of Literature in Moravia occupies part of a former Benedictine monastery in Rajhrad, just under 15 km south of Brno. It's an attraction few tourists put on their itinerary, yet it pairs a genuinely old piece of architecture with a book collection few regional museums can match: 65,000 volumes under one roof.

What exactly is this place?

Rajhrad Abbey is the oldest monastic establishment in Moravia, founded in 1045 by the Moravian (and later Bohemian) Duke Bretislav I. For centuries it operated as a working Benedictine abbey, and since 2005 part of its buildings have housed the Museum of Literature in Moravia, a branch of the Moravian Regional Museum (Muzeum Brněnska). The complex also includes the Abbey Church of St. Peter and Paul, which still functions as an active place of worship separate from the museum spaces.

What will you actually see?

The core of a visit is the permanent exhibition on the most significant writers connected to Moravia, spanning from the 9th century to the present day. The museum doesn't stop at canonical literature — it also covers writing in Moravian dialects and Moravian bibliophile prints, editions valued as much for their craftsmanship as for their text.

The real highlight, though, is the historic monastic library — the largest of its kind in Moravia. It holds 65,000 volumes ranging from medieval manuscripts to modern printed works. The library hall itself has been restored down to the last detail, so even visitors with no particular interest in literary history tend to be struck by the room alone: rows of old bindings, wooden shelving, and the vaulted ceiling above them.

How do you get there?

The abbey sits at Klášter 1 in the town of Rajhrad, roughly 14 km south of central Brno. The easiest way from Brno is by train or bus — the station and bus stop in Rajhrad are about a kilometer from the monastery, so plan on a short walk for the last stretch. That makes it equally workable as a half-day trip on its own or as a stop on the way to other sights in southern Moravia.

When should you visit?

The museum runs under the Muzeum Brněnska network, so it's worth checking current opening hours and admission prices on the museum's own website before setting out — hours can shift seasonally, especially outside peak tourist months. It's also worth knowing that parts of the abbey complex have gone through renovation work over the years, so certain wings may occasionally be closed to visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Is it worth a special trip to Rajhrad just for this museum? If you have any interest in Czech or Moravian literary history, or simply enjoy old libraries, yes — a library hall of this scale and condition is genuinely rare in the region.

How long does a visit take? A standard visit through the permanent exhibition and the library typically takes 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on your pace and whether a guided tour is available.

Can this be combined with other nearby attractions? Yes. Rajhrad sits on the route from Brno toward southern Moravia, so it pairs naturally with a day trip to Brno or a longer excursion toward Mikulov and the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape.

Does the monastery still serve a religious function? Yes — the Abbey Church of St. Peter and Paul within the complex remains an active place of worship, independent of the museum section.