Hradisko Monastery

The present day monastery grounds are often referred to as the Haná Escorial due to their architectural design. This extensive structure takes up an area of more than one hectare. The four-winged structure on an oblong-shaped floor-plan with corner towers and a moat is divided into two parts, the convent and the prelacy, by an inner transversal wing with the old church, library and tower. While the northern part of the monastery still displays certain affinities with the aesthetics of Italian Mannerism, the building of the prelacy reflects an orientation on high Baroque architecture. The monumental facade of the prelacy is decorated with sculptural architectonic décor. The columns of the portal support a balcony on the first floor where the ceremonial hall is located. The Austrian painter Paul Troger contributed, along with others, to the inner decoration. Troger painted the monumental ceiling fresco on the theme of Christ’s Feeding of the 5000 in the year 1731. The fresco is surrounded by a painting of illusive architecture by Antonio Tassi. No less impressive is the stucco and painting decoration of the vaults of the monastery library. The Italian painter Innocenzo Monti and the sculptor Baltassare Fontana worked together on it over the years 1701–1704.