The Water System

The Cistercians were always famous for their knowledge of hydraulic engineering and they skillfully used the natural conditions to utilize the water for their purposes. Hence, also in Osek a well thought out and still basically working water system developed.

To possibilities were used for the water maintenance:
The northerly Osek stream which was caught in the form of cascade ponds due to the southern steep slope of the Ore Mounatins (Krusne Hory Mountains). The second resource built the spring of the immediate vicinity of the monastery.

In accordance to a map of 1898, both water resources are reflected in two independent water systems. One system managed the water of the Osek stream, comprising open canals, ditches and the aforementioned ponds for the water catchment. In contrast, the spring water was supplied as drinking water in subterranean pipes.

A more or less third water system was used for the drainage and as a sewage system. This system comprises subterranean tunnels and canals which distributed the rainwater and the sewage to the different parts of the monastic area. Before leaving the area of the monastery, the water was led through so-called cleaning ponds and afterwards through ornamental ponds

The water system of the Osek Monastery was mainly used for the maintenance of fresh spring water and sewage. Especially the economic facilities and the brewery had an enormous demand of fresh spring water.

The Baroque drainage system is only partly preserved because the main part was separated in a sewage and rainwater system in 1978. The origin total length of the canals and tunnels was reduced from 5,577 ft (1,700 m) to 2211 ft (674 m).
Although all social facilities of the monastery were still connected to the origin drainage system, the functionality of the whole water system was severely disturbed.

Yet, the water was not used only for the general water supply. It was also used as one of the main designing elements for the stagnant and running water within the monastic area.

The ingenious waterworks of the monastery made use of the topographic advantage in different ways: in the midst of the retaining walls of the second and third terraces is a waterfall with horses spouting water; fountains accentuate the secondary axes as well. A large pool defines the atmosphere of the upper part of the abbot's garden.

Today, the main part of the damages of the building fabric and the gardens of the monastery can be derived from dysfunctions and the destruction of the historical water system. Great parts of the buildings show damages caused by moisture and the leakages or altered ground water flow lead to settlement-induced damages, respectively.