The Clementinum (''Klementinum'' in
Czech) is a historic complex of buildings in
Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries; the City Library was also nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. In 2009, the Technical library and the Municipal library moved to the
Prague National Technical Library
The Czech National Library of Technology ( cs, Národní technická knihovna, abbreviated as NTK) is located at Technická 6 in Prague 6. The building also houses a branch of the Municipal Library of Prague. The former site of the National Library ...
at Technická 6. It is in use as the
National Library of the Czech Republic
The National Library of the Czech Republic ( cs, Národní knihovna České republiky) is the central library of the Czech Republic. It is directed by the Ministry of Culture. The library's main building is located in the historical Clementinum b ...
. In 2005, the Czech National Library received the
UNESCO Jikji prize (Memory of the World).
History
Its history dates from the existence of a
chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican
monastery was founded in the
medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the
library of
Charles University
)
, image_name = Carolinum_Logo.svg
, image_size = 200px
, established =
, type = Public, Ancient
, budget = 8.9 billion CZK
, rector = Milena Králíčková
, faculty = 4,057
, administrative_staff = 4,026
, students = 51,438
, undergr ...
to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until their
suppression in 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an
observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...
, library, and university by the Empress
Maria Theresa of Austria.
The National Library was founded in 1781 and from 1782 the Clementinum was a
legal deposit library. In 1918 the newly established
Czecho-Slovak state took over the library. Since 1990, it has been the National Library. It contains a collection of
Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...
iana, material pertaining to
Tycho Brahe and
Comenius, as well as historic examples of
Czech literature. The
architecture is a notable example of
Baroque architecture and Clementinum, covering 20,000 square metres, is the second largest complex of buildings in Prague after the
Prague Castle.
For several years before 2006, there was an ongoing debate on the possibilities of expanding the space for future library collections, as space in the current Clementinum buildings was expected to reach its limit by 2010. On 10 Jan 2006, the Prague authorities decided to sell the city-owned property located in the area of
Letná near the Prague center, to the National Library. In Spring 2006, an international
architectural design competition for the new building was put up. The architect who won the competition was
Jan Kaplický, but the decision was overruled, so the Czech National Library is still waiting for its final project.
Curiosities
*At one time the Clementinum was known as the third largest
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
college in the world.
* The oldest weather recording in the area of the
Czech lands started in Clementinum in the year 1775. The recording continues through the present day.
* The Clementinum is mentioned in "
The Secret Miracle" by
Jorge Luis Borges. The main character has a dream of the library of Clementinum where the librarians look for God in the books of the library. One of the librarians says: ''God is in one of the letters of one of the pages of one of the four hundred thousand books of Clementinum. My fathers and the fathers of my fathers have looked for this letter; I myself have gone blind looking for it''. So, a reader enters and delivers an
atlas for the main character, saying that this atlas is useless. The main character opens the book at random, and find a map of
India, touching one of its minimum letters and, then, finds
God.
* The Baroque library hall inside Clementinum is known for its beautiful interior, including ceiling artwork by Jan Hiebl.
Gallery
File:Praha, Staré Město, Karolinum, Slovanská knihovna, pohled do dvora Klementina II.JPG, Prague Clementinum seen from top floor, where Slavic library is situated.
File:Klementinum, západ.jpg, Entrance to the building from Křižovnická street.
File:Klementinum zrcadlová kaple int 2.jpg, The Mirror Chapel.
File:Praha, Staré Město, Klementinum, Slovanská knihovna, malba.JPG, Inside the Clementinum, Old Town, Prague.
File:Prague-Clementinum-wall with sundials.jpg, Wall with sundials, inside the Clementinum
Image:Prague Praha 2014 Holmstad observasjonstårnet Klementinum observation tower.jpg, Astronomical tower.
See also
*
List of early modern universities in Europe
*
List of Jesuit sites
*
Strahov Monastery
References
External links
National Library of the Czech RepublicThe History of Clementinum
{{Coord, 50, 05, 12, N, 14, 24, 59, E, type:city(70), display=title
1781 establishments in Europe
Buildings and structures in Prague
Culture in Prague
Education in Prague
National Library of the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Tourist attractions in Prague
Deposit libraries
National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic