The Cistercian Monastery (basic tour)

The main sightseeing tour takes visitors to the Church High Baroque Convent, a former residential building for Plasy’s monks. A presentation of the monastery’s historical development is accompanied by information on the special design of the building’s foundations and the water and air systems.

Together with the church, the monks’ residence formed the heart of the monastery complex and was a part of the enclosure. Throughout its history the convent has undergone several reconstructions. The last major rebuilding took place in the Baroque period, when the older convent completely made way for a new building which has survived to the present day. Its architect was Jan Blažej Santini Aichel. He had the building constructed upon foundations of 5,100 oak piles, which have been solidifying the local marshy ground ever since.

During the tour, we pass through a cloister hallway decorated with Baroque frescoes by the painters Jakub Antonín Pink, František Antonín Müller and Josef Kramolín. We will also see artwork by the painter Kryštof Liška or the sculptor Matyáš Bernard Braun. We will take you to the meditation chapel of St. Bernard, the Capitular Hall, and visit the hospital wing with a display of pharmacies and unique Baroque toilets that are flushed by the Střela River. We will also view the library hall, the abbot’s study, the former reading room and the winter refectory. The commentary includes information on the sophisticated technical design of the foundations of the convent building, which was built "on water". Throughout the tour, you will be able to admire Santini's breath taking architecture, such as the self-supporting spiral staircases as well as a range of ubiquitous details.

The sightseeing tour is led by a guide and presentation is usually in Czech. However, you can borrow texts with information in German, English, French, Dutch or Russian. Guided tours in foreign languages (EN, GE) can be arranged after prior order.

Opening hours

Period Days Hours
1. 10.-27. 10. fri 10.30, 13.30
1. 10.-27. 10. sat–sun 10.00 – 16.00
28. 10.-30. 10. mon–wed 10.00 – 16.00
31. 10.-3. 11. fri–sun 10.30, 13.30
4. 11.-31. 12 closed
2025
1. 1-31. 3. closed
4. 4.-30. 4. fri 10.30, 13.30
4. 4.-30. 4. sat–sun 10.00 – 16.00

Admission

Czech guide tour
  • Adults 25 up to 64 years 220 CZK
  • Seniors 65+ 180 CZK
  • Youth 18 up to 24 years 180 CZK
  • Persons with disabilities with valid identification card/certificate 180 CZK
  • Children 6 up to 17 years 70 CZK
  • Children under 5 years free
  • Person accompanying a disabled person free
  • Person accompanying a school group of 15 pupils/students free
  • Guide accompanying a group of at least 15 persons free
  • "MK ČR" card * free
  • ICOMOS card * free
  • Seasonal NPÚ ticket free
  • Single NPÚ tickets free
  • NPÚ card free
  • "Náš člověk" card * free
  • * Valid only for one person (card holder)

Other tours

This special tour is focused on the operation of the water, ventilation and heating systems of the convent building. The foundations of the building built on water are explained here. You will see two water mirrors, air corridors and monastery separation rooms. The tour is only in czech language.

this tour is not available today

4F17A2ED-8B52-4F67-8D80-EE0130BE50BE single admission 360 CZK, czech guide only (full admission)

71B5B7E7-ACEA-4214-84EB-20FF073CEC43 duration 60 minutes

94D4AB38-6EA4-4B19-9C7F-17B845D49188 max. 15 people

Group reservation needed 2F500991-B0F5-4AC5-9B90-2BBFBDCDFC45 Reserve

More information