Rajhrad Benedictine Monastery

Rajhrad Benedictine Monastery is the oldest monastery in Moravia — a complex of monastic buildings in the small town of Rajhrad, in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region. Alongside the adjoining Church of St. Peter and Paul, it is the monastery buildings themselves — with their library and museum — that form the heart of an institution whose ties to religious life stretch back nearly a thousand years, interrupted only once, by the communist regime.

When was the monastery in Rajhrad founded?

Tradition dates the monastery's founding to 1045, when Czech Prince Břetislav I donated an abandoned stronghold at Rajhrad to Břevnov Abbey and established a small monastic cell dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Three years later, on 26 November 1048, the cell was elevated into a full monastery, subordinate to its mother house at Břevnov. Local tradition reaches back even further, linking the site to an earlier Great Moravian church said to have been visited by Saints Constantine (Cyril) and Methodius during their mission.

How did the monastery's standing change over the centuries?

Over the following centuries the monastery's importance and privileges grew steadily. In 1234, Margrave Přemysl granted it significant freedoms; in 1327, King John of Luxembourg gave the monastery's superiors the right to exercise criminal jurisdiction; and Emperor Charles IV later confirmed the earlier privileges granted by Břetislav. A turning point came in 1813, when Emperor Francis I elevated the Rajhrad provostry to the rank of an independent abbey — from that point on, the monastery was no longer subordinate to Břevnov and gained full autonomy.

What happened to the monastery under communism?

The monastery's history was not unbroken. In 1950, as part of the communist regime's campaign to suppress religious orders known as "Action K," authorities closed the monastery and dispersed its community. The buildings fell into disrepair under state administration for decades. Only in 1990, after the fall of communism, was the devastated complex returned to the Benedictine order, opening the way for its gradual restoration and revival.

What can visitors see inside the monastery today?

Since 2005, the monastery buildings have housed the Memorial of Literature in Moravia (Památník písemnictví na Moravě), a museum institution that manages the monastery's famous library of 65,000 volumes. It ranks among the most significant collections of historical books and manuscripts in the South Moravian Region, testifying to the monastery's centuries-long role as a center of culture and learning, not only prayer. The monastic complex, together with the adjoining church, holds protected cultural heritage status.

Why is Rajhrad Abbey worth a visit?

Rajhrad brings together several layers of history: medieval origins reaching back to the 11th century, a legendary connection to the Cyril and Methodius mission, growing prominence through the medieval and early modern periods, a dramatic closure under communism, and a modern revival as a museum and library site. For anyone interested in monastic history and the literary culture of Moravia, it is one of the most telling stops in the region.

Frequently asked questions

When was Rajhrad Monastery founded? Tradition attributes its founding to 1045, under Prince Břetislav I, with the transformation into a full monastery following in 1048.

Is Rajhrad the oldest monastery in Moravia? Yes, it is regarded as the oldest monastery in Moravia and one of the oldest Moravian church institutions.

What happened to the monastery after 1950? Communist authorities closed it as part of the so-called Action K campaign and dispersed its community; the buildings were only returned to the order in 1990.

When did the monastery become an independent abbey? In 1813, when Emperor Francis I elevated the Rajhrad provostry to the status of an independent abbey.

What can be seen at the monastery today? Since 2005 it has housed the Memorial of Literature in Moravia, a museum managing the monastery's library of 65,000 volumes.

Is the monastery part of the same complex as the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Rajhrad? Yes, the church and the monastery buildings form a single heritage complex, though the monastery — with its library and museum — is a distinct destination centered on the history of the order.