Clementinum
An 11th-century chapel dedicated to Saint Clement stood on the site that would become Prague's largest historic building complex. A Dominican monastery rose from those foundations during the medieval period, only to suffer strong damage in 1420 during the Hussite Wars. The ruins were transformed into a Jesuit college by 1556, marking a new chapter for the institution. In 1622, the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to this growing complex. The college merged with the University itself in 1654, creating an academic powerhouse within the city walls.
The main building phase of the Clementinum occurred between 1709 and 1726, when architects constructed the Baroque library hall. This structure covers 20,000 square metres, making it the second largest complex of buildings in Prague after Prague Castle. Jan Hiebl created ceiling artwork inside the hall that depicts the medieval depiction of human knowledge. Visitors today can view the beautiful interior which remains one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. The Astronomical tower stands as another key feature of this massive architectural achievement.
Empress Maria Theresa of Austria established the Clementinum as an observatory, library, and university following the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773. The National Library was founded in 1781, and from 1782 onward, the site served as a legal deposit library for the region. In 1918, the newly established Czecho-Slovak state took over the library operations entirely. Since 1990, the institution has operated officially as the National Library of the Czech Republic. It now houses collections including Mozartiana, material pertaining to Tycho Brahe and Comenius, alongside historic examples of Czech literature.
The first World's Fair held at the complex occurred in 1791 to celebrate the coronation of Leopold II as king of Bohemia. This industrial exhibition highlighted the sophistication of manufacturing in Czech lands during that period. Continuous weather recording began in the area of the Czech lands starting in 1775 within the Clementinum walls. That recording continues through the present day, making it one of the oldest meteorological datasets in the region. Prague City Tourism, a company owned by the City of Prague, runs the baroque route which includes both the Baroque library and the Astronomical tower since 2023.
For several years before 2006, an ongoing debate existed on expanding space for future library collections because current buildings were expected to reach their limit by 2010. On the 10th of January 2006, Prague authorities decided to sell city-owned property located in the Letná area near the centre of Prague to the National Library. An international architectural design competition launched in Spring 2006 for the new building project. Jan Kaplický won the competition, but the decision was overruled, leaving the Czech National Library still waiting for its final project. The Technical library moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 in 2009.
The Clementinum appears in a 1943 short story titled The Secret Miracle by Jorge Luis Borges. In the protagonist's dream, librarians search for God within books containing four hundred thousand volumes. One librarian states that God exists in one of the letters of one of the pages found there. A patron enters and delivers an atlas to the librarian, claiming it is useless before the dreamer finds God while touching a miniscule letter on a map of India. The institution received the UNESCO Jikji prize, also known as Memory of the World, in 2005.
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Common questions
When was the Clementinum established as a library?
The National Library of the Czech Republic was founded in 1781. The site served as a legal deposit library for the region from 1782 onward.
Who designed the Baroque library hall at the Clementinum?
Architects constructed the main building phase between 1709 and 1726 to create the Baroque library hall. Jan Hiebl created ceiling artwork inside the hall that depicts the medieval depiction of human knowledge.
What is the size of the Clementinum complex in Prague?
This structure covers 20,000 square metres, making it the second largest complex of buildings in Prague after Prague Castle. It remains one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe.
Where does continuous weather recording take place within the Clementinum?
Continuous weather recording began in the area of the Czech lands starting in 1775 within the Clementinum walls. That recording continues through the present day, making it one of the oldest meteorological datasets in the region.
Which architect won the design competition for the new Clementinum building in 2006?
Jan Kaplický won the international architectural design competition launched in Spring 2006 for the new building project. The decision was overruled, leaving the Czech National Library still waiting for its final project.