The Benedictines’ Treasure

A well-known legend says Emperor Charles IV once visited the local Benedictine monastery in disguise and unaccompanied, asking to see its celebrated treasure. The monks took him to a cellar, lifted several bricks and opened the entrance to another deep cellar. He followed them down. One room held nothing but silver, the second gold and the third votive objects. The abbot gave him a beautiful diamond ring as a keepsake. Only before his death did Charles tell several acquaintances about it and show the ring. Later the Hussites burned the monastery, the monks scattered, and nothing certain has been known of the treasure since. Legends say it was looted, moved elsewhere by the monks, or remains there, most probably beneath the Elbe. (See Trosky and Kunětická Hora.)