The national cultural monument Klementinum, the seat of the National Library of the Czech Republic, belongs to the most important buildings of historical Prague.
The beginnings of the construction of Klementin are connected with the arrival of the Jesuits in 1556, who gradually built a grandiose dormitory on the site of the former Dominican monastery, which is one of the largest baroque building complexes in Europe. When a visitor walks through the Klementina area, he cannot fail to notice its architectural diversity. It took nearly 170 years to complete this vast complex. Between 1560 and 1726, the Jesuit order built the Clementinum to the extent we know it today. Its further construction development in the course of the following two centuries did not bring anything significant, except for small things. In 1924, the reconstruction of Klementin under the direction of architect Ladislav Machona for the needs of the national, university and technical library began, which took place in several stages until the 1950s.
A visit to the Baroque Library Hall, the Astronomical Tower or the Chapel of Mirrors is one of the unforgettable experiences of every visitor to Prague. In the courtyards of Klementin, it is possible to admire the most numerous set of sundials in the Czech Republic.
Location
A baroque complex in the Old Town close to the Charles Bridge, entrances into the complex from Marianske Square, from Karlova or Křižovnická Street.
Address:
National Library of the Czech Republic
Mariánské náměstí 190/5
110 00 Prague 1
Czech Republic
Public transport:
Tram No. 17, 18 - Staroměstská station
metro A - Staroměstská station