Ghosts in the Monastery

The Cistercian monastery of Žďár, Fons Sanctae Mariae, was founded in 1252. Its turbulent history included burning during the Hussite period. The Cistercians were supposedly once moved out and replaced by Franciscans. Ghosts of Cistercians later appeared to them, crying 'Cedite nostris!'—'Make way for our own!'—and tormenting them in every way. The monks became ill and died one by one. This supposedly continued until the monastery returned to the Cistercians. The tale was recorded by one of its last monks, Placidus Nejedlý, who retired to Nové Město na Moravě after Joseph II dissolved the monastery in 1784.