Žička kartuzija Monastery

The Žiče Charterhouse, in Slovene Žička kartuzija, lies in a secluded wooded valley near Slovenske Konjice, in Styria in the north-east of Slovenia. It was founded around 1160 by Otakar III, the margrave of Styria, and it was the first Carthusian monastery in the Slovene lands and among the earliest in Central Europe. The Carthusians are an austere order who live in silence, each monk in his own cell, gathering only for certain prayers and meals, and their houses were deliberately built in remote places, which explains the quiet, enclosed setting of Žiče.

The monastery grew into a powerful centre of religion and learning. Its monks owned estates in the surrounding countryside, ran a scriptorium and library, and supported a number of other Carthusian houses in the region, among them Bistra, near Ljubljana, and Jurklošter, whose foundation owed much to Žiče. The complex suffered from Ottoman raids and fires over the centuries, and it was finally dissolved in 1782, when Emperor Joseph II closed many contemplative monasteries across the Habsburg lands. After that, the buildings were put to other uses and fell into decay, and today they exist in part as atmospheric ruins and in part as restored rooms and halls.

Visiting the site gives a sense of the scale of the original complex. The surviving church walls, with their tall windows, the remains of cloisters and the fragments of monks' cells show how the monastery was arranged, and guided tours explain the daily routine of the Carthusians. The monastery garden is a highlight, with a herb garden and the Winter Monastic Garden showing the traditional plants used for food and medicine, and the Carthusians' tradition of self-sufficiency. Gastuž, the old guest house of the monastery, is also part of the complex, and exhibitions and concerts take place in restored rooms during the year.

The valley around the monastery is pleasant for walking, with streams, meadows and woods, and there are suggestions of an Energy pathway, a modern walking route that links places that visitors may find calming, although this is a matter of personal belief. Various highly-rated restaurants in the area offer regional dishes and local wine. The Žiče Charterhouse is easy to reach by car or bicycle from Slovenske Konjice, and it combines well with a climb to Stolpnik or a stop at the Zlati Grič Winery. Opening hours and tour times vary by season, so check before travelling.