Osek (Teplice District)
Encyclopedia
Osek is a small town in the Czech Republic
that lies at the foot of the Krušné Hory in the Teplice District
in the Ústí nad Labem Region
, in the northwest of Bohemia
.
and approximately 15 km from the Czech-German border.
monastery
, originally built as the 3 knave "Church of the Assumption of Our Lady" between 1207–1220 in the style of a Roman Basilica
, by Cistercian monks who first arrived in Osek in 1199.. The monastery complex grew over time to become the economic and social hub of the region. It was rebuilt, in the top baroque
style by the architect Octavius Broggio, from 1712 till 1718 when the interior of the monastery church was decorated with fresco
paintings by Václav V. Reiner
and a new convent, library and chapels were constructed. When first installed its church organ was one of the largest in Europe. The chapter hall of the old convent features a unique Early Gothic reading counter, carved from stone with an ornate base in the shape of a knot, dated in 1240.
Situated on the Dobrotiva Formation
, Osek lies is a rich area for fossil
s from the Ordovician
period, particularly trilobites. Salesius Hill in Osek is an interesting "rock city" of huge sandstone blocks, pillars and fissures. This unusual topography has inspired work by artists such as the painter Jan Tichý. Parts of the film Anna proletářka
were filmed on location in Osek and Osek railway station.
and during the Hussite wars
was considered impenetrable. During the wars the monastery was twice burned down. Much of the monasteries property was also sold by emperor
Zikmund
to fund further military expeditions against the Hussites.
. In March 2007 the Czech Republic started selling stamps with a picture of the Osek monastery on it. In the last few years the town has been undergoing intense maintenance and reconstruction to further increase tourism.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
that lies at the foot of the Krušné Hory in the Teplice District
Teplice District
The Teplice District is a district in the Czech Republic and is part of the Ústí nad Labem Region along with the districts of Most, Louny, Chomutov, Litoměřice, Děčín and Ústí nad Labem...
in the Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústí nad Labem Region
Ústí nad Labem Region is an administrative unit of the Czech Republic, located in the north-western part of its historical region of Bohemia...
, in the northwest of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
.
Geography and demographics
In 2006 the town's population was 4,934. Osek is located only approximately 8 km east of the town of TepliceTeplice
Teplice , Teplice-Šanov until 1948 is a town in the Czech Republic, the capital of the Teplice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region. It is the state's second largest spa town ....
and approximately 15 km from the Czech-German border.
History
Osek is notable for a Burgundian GothicGothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, originally built as the 3 knave "Church of the Assumption of Our Lady" between 1207–1220 in the style of a Roman Basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
, by Cistercian monks who first arrived in Osek in 1199.. The monastery complex grew over time to become the economic and social hub of the region. It was rebuilt, in the top baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style by the architect Octavius Broggio, from 1712 till 1718 when the interior of the monastery church was decorated with fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
paintings by Václav V. Reiner
Václav Vavrinec Reiner
Wenzel Lorenz Reiner was a Baroque painter who lived and died in Prague, Bohemia.-External links:* * *...
and a new convent, library and chapels were constructed. When first installed its church organ was one of the largest in Europe. The chapter hall of the old convent features a unique Early Gothic reading counter, carved from stone with an ornate base in the shape of a knot, dated in 1240.
Situated on the Dobrotiva Formation
Dobrotiva Formation
The Dobrotiva Formation is a fossil formation situated in the North West of the Czech Republic. The town of Osek is built upon it. The Dobrotiva formation contains many valuable trilobites....
, Osek lies is a rich area for fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s from the Ordovician
Ordovician
The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic Era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian Period and is followed by the Silurian Period...
period, particularly trilobites. Salesius Hill in Osek is an interesting "rock city" of huge sandstone blocks, pillars and fissures. This unusual topography has inspired work by artists such as the painter Jan Tichý. Parts of the film Anna proletářka
Anna Proletárka
Anna Proletářka is a 1953 Czechoslovak film based on the novel by Ivan Olbracht. The movie was filmed on location in Osek, and Prague. It was released on 20 February 1953. It describes proletarian life in the Czech Lands after World War I....
were filmed on location in Osek and Osek railway station.
Hussite wars
The medieval castle Rýzmburk (Riesenburg) belonged to its founders, the powerful family from Rýzmburk until 1398; the ownership then shifted to the margraves of Meissen. It was one of the strongest fortresses in the Czech landsCzech lands
Czech lands is an auxiliary term used mainly to describe the combination of Bohemia, Moravia and Czech Silesia. Today, those three historic provinces compose the Czech Republic. The Czech lands had been settled by the Celts , then later by various Germanic tribes until the beginning of 7th...
and during the Hussite wars
Hussite Wars
The Hussite Wars, also called the Bohemian Wars involved the military actions against and amongst the followers of Jan Hus in Bohemia in the period 1419 to circa 1434. The Hussite Wars were notable for the extensive use of early hand-held gunpowder weapons such as hand cannons...
was considered impenetrable. During the wars the monastery was twice burned down. Much of the monasteries property was also sold by emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
Zikmund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
to fund further military expeditions against the Hussites.
Present
Today Osek is a known tourist destination in the region. Every year there is a festival where many of the historical items are present for viewing and practically the entire town is transformed into a fairFair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
. In March 2007 the Czech Republic started selling stamps with a picture of the Osek monastery on it. In the last few years the town has been undergoing intense maintenance and reconstruction to further increase tourism.
Literature
- Mario Feuerbach: Das Zisterzienserkloster Ossegg. Baugeschichte und Baugestalt von der Gründung 1196 bis in das Jahr 1691, Heimbach/Eifel 2009. ISBN: 978-3-8107-9306-5.