ABBEY OF STIČNA (MUZEJ STIČNA)

The oldest monastery in the country (1132) was founded by the Patriarch of Aquileia Peregrin. Thirty years after the foundation of the Cistercian order, the monks arrive at Stična with the builder Michel Cementarius. In the 15th century, the Turkish invasions caused major damage. The abbey is in full bloom 2 centuries later. At the end of the 18th century, the order was dissolved by Joseph II and monastic life did not begin again until 1898.

The abbey church with three naves, baroque, retains its Romanesque origins with narrow windows in a double row. Among the beautiful pieces: the funerary monument (1623) of Abbot Jakob Reinprecht, the organ case (1747) and the Stations of the Cross, the fourteen stations of which are the work of Fortunat Bergant (1766). To the south, stop at the beauty of the decorative figures to admire the 14th century frescoes: allegories of the Four Winds and the Four Virtues, patriarchs and prophets in the vaults of the cloister. The refectory with its pink ceiling, decorated with stuccoes, is worth a look. The library no longer holds 12th century books, which are now placed in the National and University Library in Ljubljana.

In the 16th century, the abbey was extended by a two-storey building. The vestibule of the triple barrel vault is decorated with plant, floral, berry and bird motifs. This wing is called Neff Abbey, after its abbot. The south side was closed in the 18th century to form a baroque courtyard. A double staircase leads to the finely decorated late 18th century room known as the Abbot's chapel. On the north side, the courtyard is closed by the former prelacy which welcomed, among its guests, the horsemen. The tower used to mark the main entrance. The vestibule is decorated with stuccoes (1620) of great beauty representing the Fathers of the Church and the Last Judgement. The courtyard and its surroundings have been renovated. Take a tour of the exterior of this vast ensemble to appreciate its importance.

In the religious museum opened in 1985, there are many relics such as objects of worship, furniture, statues. They allow us to come into close contact with the work of missionary Friderik Baraga, a native of Trebnje who travelled to North America in the 19th century to evangelize the Chippewa Indians. The guide to the monastery exists in French and can be essential for a better understanding of the different historical and religious issues.