The Czech Friends of the Osek Monastery

In 2003, the Czech Friends of the Osek Monastery achieved a membership of 260 people from all over the Czech Republic - most from northern Bohemia and the region around Osek - and some from Slovakia. They support the Friends and the monastery through contributions and donations.

The concrete work of the Friends takes place mainly in the cultural sphere. Every year in August on the grounds of the monastery, the Friends, together with the town, present the Osek Town Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors. In cooperation with the monastery, the Friends produce biannual newsletters, organize exhibits, and work to publicize the monastery in the media.

In 1996 in connection with the celebration of the 800th anniversary of the founding of the monastery, the Friends issued a series of publications in German and Czech, highlighted by a comprehensive commemorative work addressing historic topics.

A significant amount of work goes into the concerts of spiritual music, held at least eight times a year since 1996 in the monastery church, including concerts within the framework of international music festivals.

Well-known Bohemian and international artists are invited to perform. Since the beginning of 2003, cooperation between both Friends of the Osek Monastery groups as well as other institutions has aimed at restoring the valuable historic monastery gardens and buildings.