Hotel Augustine - A Slice of Prague History
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The Augustine, Prague's swanky new addition to its list of luxury hotels, sits on hallowed grounds, and I don't just mean the UNESCO world heritage site of Mala Strana (Lesser Quarter) where it is situated.
Set within seven historic buildings dating from the 13th to the 17th century, the hotel has been built around the cloistered terraces and vaults of St Thomas's Monastery.
This Augustinian Monastery forms the largest part of the building and, the best part is, the core of the monastery still exists in the left wing of the hotel! Should you look down from one of the 101 rooms of the hotel you might even catch a glimpse of the monks in the leafy courtyards below.
Built by Wenceslas II in 1285 as a monastery church of the Augustinians, this was one of the few churches to remain Catholic through the Hussite period and to this date it continues to be a meeting place for the English-speaking catholic community of Prague. As a guest of the hotel you can request a tour of the original gothic church and climb up the tower to take a look at the ancient library. Hundreds and hundreds of invaluable, dusty, old manuscripts and books from as far back as the 16th century are lined up here on equally old shelves. It's not to be missed.
The hotel itself is a bold and beautiful exercise in renovation. Whether it is the arched lime-washed corridors that instantly remind you of the monastery's cloisters, or the spiral staircases and vaulted ceilings, the building echoes its past everywhere you look. Surprisingly, the Cubism theme that runs through its interiors only adds to the monastic feel of the place. The sumptuous colours and clean lines pick up on the both the baroque elements of the church and the simplicity of the monastery.
There is more. St Thomas's Brewery, possibly Prague's most famous beer house was once housed in the cellar of the hotel. Beer was first brewed here in 1352 by the Augustinian monks and gained such a reputation that the brewery was appointed the sole purveyor of beer to Prague Castle until 1951. The beer hall, with its original doors and 18th century frescoes still intact, has now been re-christened Tom's Bar and is open to all, as is the hotel's main restaurant, the Monastery, which was listed by Euro magazine as one of the best in Prague.
The hotel also has a tranquil spa with its signature line of treatments using beer hops and beer among other natural products.
All rooms from the studio to the ultra luxurious Charles suite are unique and offer splendid views of the Castle or the courtyards. And last but not the least, its fantastic location means Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, the Old Town and Vltava River are only a short walk away - perfect for a business event or a city break.
Doubles from €300, including breakfast.
Letenská 33/12, Prague, Czech Republic
Contact tel: +420 266 112 233, fax: +42 0 266 11 22 34, e-mail:
Services spa, fitness equipment, parking, hotel restaurant, hotel bar, room service, business services, internet access
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Hotel Augustine, Prague
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