For one day, Prague will reveal a side of Strahov Monastery that is usually out of reach.

On May 2, the site will open selected interiors to the public as part of the Saint Norbert Festival, marking 399 years since a procession that reshaped its role in Europe.

The event looks back to the early 17th century, when the remains of Saint Norbert were brought to Prague. After the northern German city of Magdeburg adopted Protestantism, Strahov’s abbot, Kašpar of Questenberg, secured the relics of the Premonstratensian order’s founder and arranged their transfer to Bohemia.

The journey took place under imperial authority. Soldiers led by Albrecht von Wallenstein accompanied the relics to Prague, where they arrived in a ceremonial procession at the turn of 1626 and 1627. The event drew attention across the region and placed Strahov at the center of the Premonstratensian order.

Saint Norbert later became one of the patron saints of the Czech lands. This year’s festival revisits that moment, bringing its history back into focus nearly four centuries later.

The program will begin at 10 a.m. with a mass in the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Throughout the day, the monastery complex will host cultural and educational events open to the public.

Visitors can enter the Romanesque halls free of charge, where an exhibition presents the life of Saint Norbert and the story behind the transfer of his relics. Two short organ concerts are also scheduled inside the basilica.

In the Strahov courtyard, a public program will run alongside the main events. Organizers plan a traditional fair with food, crafts and demonstrations, including historical printing and calligraphy, along with live music performances.

A key highlight is the reopening of the recently restored Abbey Refectory, a space rarely accessible to visitors. It offers a wide view over Prague, typically reserved for the monastery community.

The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering limited-time access to parts of Strahov that are usually closed.

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