The Želiv Monastery has opened the temple tower to the public

Želiv (Pelhřimovsko) - Visitors to the Želiv monastery can now take a look into the southern tower of the abbey church and ring its bell during weekend tours. The tower is 44 meters high and features an impressive staircase designed by Santini. As priest Karol Lovaš informed ČTK today, the monastery also offers classical music concerts and night tours of treasures from the monastery's depository during the summer.

The Premonstratensians decided to open one of the two church towers after extensive repairs to the church last year. "That is one of the reasons why we decided to open as much space as possible to the public," Lovaš stated. Thanks to the repairs, the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary has come closer to the form that architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel gave it during its last reconstruction.

The tower is open only on weekends, but the church is freely accessible daily. The monastery grounds, which is a national cultural monument, also regularly host tourist tours. In the cloister, visitors will see a new wooden statue of Emperor Charles IV by Slovak sculptor Albert Šimrák. The Želiv Premonstratensians commemorate the 700th anniversary of the ruler's birth this year also because he forgave them for two years the obligation to pay mandatory dues when they were in financial distress.