Osek Monastery was founded in 1191 and after some years was taken by Cisterziensers from
Waldassen Monastery. Thanks to their architectural skill Osek Monastery was one of the
first buildings with typical gothic style. Another significant rebuilding of the monastery
was in the middle of the 18
th century. This age of the monastery is connected
with such names as Octavio Broggio, G.A. Corbelini, Johann J. Steifels and others.
At the foot of the Krusne Hory mountains there is an architecturally precious complex, the
Cistercian monastery in Osek, which was established as early as the end of the 12
th century. The site is dominated by the large abbot church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary established as a Romanesque three nave basilica in 1207. In 1712 - 1718 the building was rebuilt in a top Baroque style by the architect Octavius Broggio.
One of the most precious objects of the monastery is
one of the oldest Gothic spaces in
Bohemia, the old convent, whose eastern wing with a beautiful chapter hall was built around
1240. The new convent together with the library and chapels was built at the beginning of
the 18
th century.
The small mining community of Osek is particularly remarkable for its monastery complex, founded in 1191 and occupied a few years later by the Cistercians from the Waldsassen
monastery. Among their number were master builders experienced in the French Gothic, the most advanced style of that time. Around 1240 they built the architecturally daring ribbed vaults of the monastery chapter hall, and this uncommon constructional solution led to the
spread of Gothic art in to other places in Bohemia. During the baroque period, the Osek monastery underwent an architectural boom. In the middle of the 18
th
century, the most significant architect working outside of Prague, the naturalized Italian,
Octavio Broggio from Litomerice, was called upon together with sculptor Frantisek Anton Kuen
and stucco artist, G. A. Corbelini, as well as the painters Johann J. Steifels, Jan Krystof
Liska, Michael Willmann and fresco painter Vaclav Vavrinec Reiner. Their task was to build
and decorate the Church of the Assumption. Several other artists such as Josef Kramolin and
Jan Petr Molitor participated in adorning other spaces and buildings.
The entire vast complex of the monastery is a unique gallery today, a true jewel of the
baroque period. In the town there is another noteworthy work -
a monument to the victims
of the Nelson Mine catastrophe of 1934, the work of the Czech sculptor, Karel Pokorny. Also
worthy of mention is the ruin of the nearby Riesenburg castle, presently inaccessible to the public.
In 1996 the Cisterzienser-monk-monastery Osek became 800 years old. Under 40 years of
communist administration the monastery-buildings and the total equipment have suffered
greatly. Even the part which was given for tourist tours, becomes only, scanty renovation. At
present still an old people's home for monastery sisters in the monastery. They were
concentrated over here from the whole country to spent their eventide. It was a jail
for nuns. Now it shall give shelter for homeless and be used for vacations but also
as a meditation, training a.s.o. centre. In spring 1992 the monastery was given back
by the state to the new abbe; he must look now how to get along. The monastery is the
head office of the Bohemian Congregation, a monastery-compound with eight monasteries
in three different nations.
Guide 
