Czech Libraries

Calling all bibliophiles!

The castle libraries of the Czech Republic represent the artistic and scientific pursuits of their aristocratic owners until the 19th century and remain miraculously intact. In addition we will be shown the Baroque libraries of Prague and the three greatest monastery libraries.  Owners, English-speaking curators and librarians will speak about the collections and allow us to handle some of their treasures.

THE ITINERARY
Day 1
PRAGUE
AM
Arrive Prague Airport and transfer by private coach to Augustine, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Prague
Lunch independently
PM
Visit the beautiful Strahov Monastery Library, founded in 1143, with the curator of manuscripts, with special access to the Augustinian Library
Welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel
Day 2
PRAGUE
AM
Leave to visit Prague Castle
Visit the Nosticz library in the Mala Strana (by special permission)
Lunch at a restaurant beside the river
PM
Visit the Baroque Klementinum Library hall, now the National Library, led by the conservator
Walking tour to include the City Library, with an optional visit to the 'Libri Prohibiti' library of samizdat books
Dinner at the Lobkowicz Palace, which houses the superb family collection of European art (by special arrangement)
Day 3
KYNZVART/MARIANSKE LAZNE / TEPLA / PRAGUE
AM
Leave for West Bohemia to visit the Library and Cabinet of Curiosities of Austrian State Chancellor Metternich at Kynzvart
Lunch at a restaurant in the spa town of Marianske Lazne (Marienbad)
PM
Visit the Premonstratensian Tepla Monastery Library, second largest of its kind in the Czech Republic, and comprising over 100,000 volumes
Return to Prague
Dinner independently
Day 4
NELAHOZEVES / MNICHOVO HRADISTE / PRAGUE
AM
Leave to visit the Roudnice Lobkowicz collections at Nelahozeves Castle. Here the Lobkowicz family assembled the largest private library in Central Europe, with over 65,000 volumes. Special presentation with the curator of rare books
Lunch at the castle restaurant
PM
Visit the library of the Waldstein family at Mnichovo Hradiste, where Casanova spent his final years as librarian and wrote his memoirs
Return to Prague
Dinner independently
Day 5
KUTNA HORA / KACINA / HRADEC KRALOVE
AM
Leave for Kutna Hora and visit the Gothic cathedral of St. Barbara
Continue to the beautiful Neo-classical library at the chateau of Kacina
Lunch at a private castle
PM
Visit the castle of Zleby, where the library has many important 16th century manuscripts collected by the Auersberg family
Continue to stay at an elegant Art Deco hotel in Hradec Králové
Dinner at the hotel
Day 6
CASTOLOVICE / BRNO
AM
Leave to visit Castolovice, the first castle to have been restituted, in 1992 Tour to include the library, followed by a private lunch with Countess Diana Sternberg Phipps
PM
Continue to Brno and stay at a 5-star hotel in the city centre
Dinner at the hotel
Day 7
BRNO / BOSKOVICE / RAJEC NAD SVITAVOU / BRNO
AM
Leave for a special visit to the Augustinian Library and Mendel Museum
Continue for a private lunch and visit to the library at the Neo-classical Mensdorff-Pouilly house at Boskovice
PM
Visit the house and Enlightenment library at Rajec nad Svitavou
Dinner at a Modernist-era restaurant
Day 8
KROMERIZ / RAJHRAD / BRNO
AM
Leave to visit the 17th century library at the Archbishop’s Summer Palace at Kromeriz
Lunch at a restaurant in the town square
PM
Visit the library in the Benedictine monastery of Rajhrad
Dinner independently
Day 9
NAMEST NA OSLAVOU / ZDAR NAD SAZAVOU / CESKY STERNBERG / PRAGUE
AM
Leave to visit the library at Namest na Oslavou
Lunch privately with the Kinsky family at Zdar nad Sazavou and visit Santini’s famous Pilgrimage Chapel, now UNESCO-listed
PM
Visit the private library at Cesky Sternberg (by kind arrangement)
Return to Prague and check into the Augustine hotel
Drinks at a private library in Prague, followed by dinner at a restaurant
Day 10
PRAGUE
AM
Transfers to Prague Airport for return flights
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