Vyšší Brod is a small town known primarily for its magnificent Cistercian monastery complex. It was built in the 13th century, but it has traces of reconstructions and changes from later eras.
The settlement was established at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries at the ford on the Vltava River, which was used primarily by merchants following the trade route. For this reason, it was of a commercial nature from the very beginning.
In the mid-thirteenth century, the then owner of the village, Wok of Rożemberek, brought the Cistercians here, founded a monastery for them and gave them the surrounding area as a salary. Thanks to this, the monastery was able to develop quickly, primarily based on profits from agriculture.
The monastery complex, preserved to this day, is in its main part early Gothic. Its central element is the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the 14th century, a magnificent gothic altar was made for him, considered to be one of the greatest gothic works in the Czech lands. It is currently located in the church of St. Agnes in Prague. Around the church there are monastic buildings from various eras, some of which are open to the public.
A lot of historic buildings have also been preserved in the town, including the building housing the Postal Museum. Another attraction of the town of Vyšší Brod is the nearby Lipno Reservoir, which is used for recreational purposes.
