Prelatura v Ostrovačicích Monastery

Prelatura v Ostrovačicích is located in the northern part of the village, in the immediate vicinity of the church of St. John the Baptist and St. Wenceslas in the district of Brno-venkov. The one-storey building with attached chapel is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and forms a harmonious architectural complex together with the adjacent rectory.

Ostrovačice has been in the property of benedictors since the Middle Ages. The first documentary proof of their connection to the local parish dates back to 1255, when the abbot Martin I was documented as the patron saint of the church. Although the islanders' goods were stopped in the middle of the 15th century and in the early 17th century, they always returned to the hands of the Order. Since the second quarter of the 17th century, the parish managed the benedictini from a nearby monastery in Rajhrad as its administrators.

The breaking point needed security. During the Ottoman wars and the Hungarian uprising, the monks repeatedly resorted to Ostrovacice. For the first time in 1683, when they were afraid of Polish troops dragging to the aid of the besieged Vienna, then from 1703 to 1704 in escape from Kurucs and probably also in 1707. It is this experience that has led to the decision to build its own seat here. In the years 1723 and 1724 a one-storey residence with chapel was established, which was added to the back of the rectory, which increased the area to the ground plan of the letter L. Construction was implemented by František Benedikt Klíčník. The original plans were ordered by the Rahrad Probost Anton Pirmus in 1718; Their author was presumed to be according to the earlier interpretation of Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel, according to a recent analysis rather Christian Alexander Oedtl - the originals have not been preserved.

The residence served not only as a refuge but also as a residence of the administrator or economic inspector of the island farm. In the 18th century Ostrovačice became a pilgrimage place by Papa Klement IX. called indulgences. It was also taken care of by the lay brotherhood. In 1765 the building was expanded and the interiors were renovated; The work was led by the masonry master Matyas Jednej from Moravian Krumlov, whose signature bears preserved plans. Further maintenance took place in 1849.

Architectural property is preserved in surprisingly good quality. In the common rooms are visible Baroque wall paintings depicting the allegory of the Creation of the World and the wisdom of God. The chapel kept its decorative wall paintings, a niche with a stone altar menza and remnants of the cancelled altar. The long neglect culminated in 2007 in an emergency, but in 2016, the church began a gradual reconstruction of the interiors, which is ongoing until now.

Visiting Ostrovačice means not only seeing a modest but cultured structure, but penetrating deep into the history of local piety, faith in the distinctive role of monks and their influence on the landscape they inhabited.