Prelatura

The Prelature is a Baroque building that once served as the abbot's residence at the Cistercian monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou, in the Vysočina Region, built in the 1720s and attributed to Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel.

What exactly is a prelature?

A prelature is a type of building erected from the 16th to the 18th century as the residence of the head of a large monastery — a representative structure standing outside the enclosure, that is, outside the part of the monastery complex reserved for the monks themselves. The Žďár example ranks among the most impressive buildings of this kind in the Vysočina Region.

Who built the prelature in Žďár, and when?

The building went up as an entirely new structure between 1722 and 1727 (some sources give 1728 as the completion date). It was commissioned by Václav Vejmluva, abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Žďár nad Sázavou, known for extensive building activity across the abbey grounds. No document directly confirms the architect, but the building's form and Santini's documented work for the Žďár monastery lead to its attribution to Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel, the architect famous for blending Baroque and Gothic elements into a distinctive style of his own.

Why did the abbot need a new residence?

Before the prelature was built, the abbot's seat was a medieval, largely Gothic building standing northwest of the convent church and north of the clock tower. By the High Baroque period, that older structure no longer matched the representational standards expected of a senior church dignitary. The new wing was raised specifically to fill the space between the old prelature and the convent church, giving the abbey a residence fit for its era.

What does the building's architecture look like?

The prelature follows a symmetrical composition of three volumes: a transversely oriented octagon at the centre, topped with a mansard roof, flanked by two lower wings on a rectangular plan. The façade combines Baroque forms with Gothic-inspired motifs — a pairing typical of Santini's work, also visible in the building's plinth zone, with its archivolts and detailed window reveals.

What can visitors see inside?

Inside, a grand staircase with suspended flights arranged in a hall-like configuration greets visitors. On the upper floor lies the main octagonal hall, its vault decorated with a ceiling fresco painted by Karel František Töpper around 1734, celebrating the Cistercian order — one of the most striking pieces of painted decoration in the whole monastery complex.

What is the prelature used for today?

After the monastery was dissolved, the building took on the function of a château, which is why the whole complex is sometimes referred to as Žďár Castle. It has been protected as a cultural monument since 1970. Today the prelature forms part of Žďár Castle, open to visitors on a paid tour, and its interiors — including the frescoed hall — are occasionally used for events such as weddings.

How does the prelature relate to the rest of the Žďár monastery complex?

The building is part of the northern extension of the monastery complex, which once also included a school for the nobility. The monastery complex in Žďár nad Sázavou is best known for the nearby pilgrimage Church of St. John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora — another work by Santini and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — but the prelature itself is a separate monastery building standing in the town, worth visiting on its own regardless of a trip to Zelená hora.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of building is a prelature? It is the representative residence of the head, or abbot, of a large monastery, built outside the monastic enclosure — a building type typical of the 16th to 18th centuries.

Who built the prelature in Žďár nad Sázavou, and when? It was raised between 1722 and 1727, commissioned by Abbot Václav Vejmluva, and its design is attributed to Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel.

What is there to see inside the prelature? A grand staircase and, on the upper floor, an octagonal hall with a vault decorated by a ceiling fresco painted by Karel František Töpper around 1734.

Can the prelature be visited today? Yes, the building is part of Žďár Castle, open to the public, and it has been listed as a cultural monument since 1970.