Sazava Monastery

About

Declared a national cultural monument in 1962, Sázava Monastery is one of the oldest and best preserved monasteries in all of Bohemia. During its early years, Sázava was seen as a cultural bridge between the eastern and western branches of the church due its use of the Old Slavonic, the first written Slavic language. However this came to an abrupt end in 1097, when the Pope forbade Slavic liturgies during religious ceremonies and Slavic monks were banished from the monastery. During the 15th century Hussite War Sázava was burnt down, then remodeled in the Baroque style in the 17th century before finally being abolished in the 19th century and rebuilt as a Pseudo-Renaissance chateau. Nowadays Sázava has been returned to its original aesthetic and acts as a cultural centre for the traditions of Old Slavonic and a museum of historical artefacts from the region.