1222 & 1728 - Dominikánský klášter / Dominican convent - Znojmo (South Moravia) - Chronograms on Waymarking.com

Two chronograms on the entrance portal of Dominican convent (Dominikánský klášter) in Znojmo indicate the years of the convent establishment and the laying the foundation stone of the its Baroque western wing.

Complex of the Dominican convent, founded together with convent church of the Holy Cross probably in 1222, belongs among the oldest ecclesiastical institutions in Znojmo. The convent and the Church of the Holy Cross are located in the historic center of Znojmo and with short breaks belong to the Dominican order. The economic rise of the convention was due to donations from the aristocratic family of lords of Vajtmile in the second half of the 15th century. This period is documented by the still preserved parts of the cloister in the north, east and south wings. On the contrary, the Thirty Years' War meant an economic, even existential, disaster for the convention. Fortunately, in the second half of the 17th century, the convent was gradually restored, culminating in the construction of a monumental high Baroque western wing (towards Dolní Ceská Street) in the first third of the 18th century. The architect was probably Franz Knight de Roetiers from Vienna. However, the plan to continue the general reconstruction of the convention on the other wings was eventually abandoned due to lack of funds. The Convention subsequently suffered during the Wars of the Austrian Succession (1742), during the Napoleonic Wars (1809) and especially during the Austro-Prussian War (1866). During the First World War, a military hospital was established here. The activities of the Znojmo Dominicans were terminated by the communist rule in 1950 and the convent was occupied and used by the Border guards. Later (after 1960) it housed s Vocational school and some offices. The complex was eventually returned into hands of the Dominican order in 1990.

The Dominican Convent is a historically valuable medieval monastic complex, the eastern and southern wings of the convent date from ca 1300, the cloister and the chapter hall have vaults from ca 1500. The whole convent underwent Baroque completion and reconstruction and forms an important architectural element of Znojmo.

The entrance portal of the convent bears marble tablet with following chronograms:

Summa of Latin numerals from the first chronogram, MCCXVVII, gives the (legendary?) date, when the convent was founded by Czech king Premysl Ottokar I - 1222.

Summa of Latin numerals from the second chronogram, MDCCVVVVVIII, gives the date when the foundation stone of its monumental Baroque western wing was layed - 1728.