Strahov Monastery Library

The library existed in Strahov already in the earliest period, but its fate from the beginning in the 12th century until the 16th century is only known in outline. Abbot Lohel (1586–1612), considered the restorer of the monastery, built the first, now almost forgotten, library hall in a special section of the monastery. His work was continued by his successor Kašpar Questenberg (1612–1640), Kryšpín Fuk (1640–1653) and abbot Vincenc Makarius Frank (1658–1669), who systematically devoted himself to building the book fund. Abbot Jeroním Hirnheim (1670–1679). built a new library hall (today the Theological Hall) and in 1679 5,564 volumes were stored in it. The second hall, today called the Philosophical Hall, was built under Abbot Václav Mayer (1779–1800) in the years 1792 – 1794.