The Augustinian Monastery in Roudnice will become a national cultural monument after years of waiting

Roudnice nad Labem - The Augustinian monastery in Roudnice nad Labem will become a national cultural monument. Its owners hope that the inscription, which has been awaited for several years, will facilitate access to funding. The money would be used for repairs to the building from 1333 and for making the space more comfortable for visitors. Tourists mostly pass by the monastery located near the city center, while thousands flock to the nearby rotunda on Říp. Both monuments are managed by the Roman Catholic Church. The government approved the inclusion of the monastery and seven other historical buildings in the Czech Republic on the list last week; they will become national cultural monuments next year.

Roudnice belonged to the Prague bishopric and served as a rural residence. Bishop John of Dražice established the monastery for the order of Augustinian canons here. "The monastery was a cultural center of the region in the Middle Ages. The canons were educated and very active people. They wrote books, taught at the university, and supported the bishop," said steward Tomáš Buryška to ČTK. Before the Hussites, the Augustinians managed to relocate the entire library. "A book, handwritten on tanned skin in golden letters, was a true treasure back then. However, all we have left from the entire library is just an inscription on the wall; the manuscripts from the monastery are now scattered across various archives," Buryška noted.

Four Gothic artworks have also been saved, which are exhibited by the National Gallery. In the church, which was rebuilt in the first half of the 18th century in the style of Baroque Gothic according to the design of František Maxmilián Kaňka, copies can be viewed. The former residence for canons has become a rectory. "If I had to highlight one thing to come here for, it would be the wall painting in the cloister that has remained from the original painting. It is reportedly the oldest preserved variant of the tree of life north of the Alps," emphasized the guide. However, according to him, only the eyes of experts can often distinguish Christ on the tree and the pompous composition around it. "Laypeople only see spots on the wall here," he lamented.

The monastery is accompanied by a garden, which is now just a remnant of the former property of the Augustinians. As the town expanded, the church gradually sold off land to it. Today, sheep graze in the garden among the benches on the hill. "In the summer, there is a theater festival, various meetings are held. A dignified outdoor setting would be one of the first things we would like to use the grant money for," Buryška stated. A complete renovation of the entire monastery, which also houses a pond, would cost hundreds of millions of crowns. Investment is needed for dehumidification, roofs, walls, the cloister, and the church.

According to Buryška, the majority of visitors to the monastery are already aware of its cultural value. It is open during the season from April to October; in winter, it’s enough to call the steward, who is willing to give tours to enthusiasts almost anytime. The monastery can afford tourism because they also manage the rotunda of St. George and St. Wenceslas on Říp, which attracts crowds. "During the two COVID seasons, it was really a massacre there; now we expect a surge during the holidays when we always decorate the rotunda for Christmas. The monastery is a bit hidden; it’s not even visible from the square. But for example, cyclists passing along the Elbe peek into the church. However, not everyone wants to wait for the tour, which is every hour," said Buryška. The Roudnice parish has plans for tourism development ready; according to Buryška, they only lack capable guides besides funding. "And that is a big problem for all monuments," added the steward.