The Abbey of Munster, also known as Saint Gregory's Abbey was founded around 660. Its purpose was to promote Christianity in the region, which had been in decline since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. It thrived with the support of the Frankish kings, particularly Childeric II and Louis the Pious. Over time, the abbey faced conflicts with the bishops of Basel, Strasbourg, and the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire.
As the region largely turned to Protestantism, the abbey's influence waned. It experienced a revival under Louis XIV, who sent French monks to restore and rebuild the dilapidated buildings. During the 18th century, the abbey became an important regional intellectual center, with figures like Abbot Charles Marchant and theologian Augustin Calmet passing through.
However, the French Revolution led to the dissolution of the abbey and the confiscation and sale of its assets. Some of the convent buildings, including the abbey church, were destroyed in the years following the Revolution, while the rest were converted into a textile factory by the industrialist André Hartmann. This factory was also destroyed during World War I, leaving only the abbot's residence and some cloister ruins.
References:The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.