Luka Dakskobler

Stories: THE ŽIČE CARTHUSIAN MONASTERY

A solitary monastery in a narrow valley of Žičnica stream in Slovenia was the first Carthusian monastery in Central European German and Slavic countries. The remains of the monastery speak of its historic knowledge, huge library of science books, its medicine, herbs, and bloody Ottoman attacks. The Žiče Carthusian Monastery was established in 1160 by the Styrian border count Otokar III. and his son, the first Duke of Styria Otokar IV. of Traungau. Since it was the first Carthusian monastery outside the classical countries of the order, Pope himself had to allow Carthusian monks to come here under the leadership of the first prior Beremund. These were mostly French, and their solitary quiet lives were devoted to contemplating and praying. Twelve monks and 22 lay brothers. What is nowadays the Zice Carthusian Monastery is only it's upper house. Two kilometres down the valley was it's lower house that was completely burnt to the ground in the Ottoman attacks. The monks were also craftsmen and healers. The lower house actually had a hospital, that was moved to Gastuz at the entrance to the upper house after the attack. Gastuz is now the oldest bar in Slovenia. Their medical practices did not die down after the fall of the lower house. Years later, Claudius Guiot opened a chemist shop in the upper house that is now considered the oldest public chemist in Slovenia. It was among the best in this part of Europe. The herbs were grown in a herbal garden outside the walls of the upper house. It is still there. But in that time, they had a green house and it was actually heated by an underground stove. The tradition of herbal medicine in Zice Carthusian Monastery is still alive today. They also grew vine and produced wines that were later sold. The monks were highly educated. According to Paolo Santonin's travel notes from 1487 the monastic library is supposed to have counted over 2000 manuscripts, dictionaries and books in 80 natural sciences, which could easily compare to the library of Sorbona in Paris. Not many libraries of that time had that many manuscripts. The Grande Chartreuse in France was well aware of its importance. After a break in the order, the Zice Carthusian Monastery even temporarily took on the role of the Grande Chartreuse which gave it wealth and power. But in later years, disease and herecy plagued it. Further more, the Ottomans found it. According to reports, they attacked it at least twice. Nowadays the monastery is a cultural tourist attraction and venue, still so remote that there is no mobile telephone signal. Artist come into this peace and quiet to create, others to calm down and contemplate. Twenty thousand tourists annually come here to hear what has been unknown for so many years. In 2007, a part-fictional Medieval event, based on real events, reenacted the Ottoman attack on the monastery that happened in March 1531, when the Ottomans tortured monks and skinned prior Andrej. No one knows what happened later, but the monastery continued its mission, slowly diminishing, until Franz Joseph II closed it in 1782. 

  • An actor playing a Carthusian monk greets visitors at the gate to the Žiče Carthusian Monastery during the Fiery Carthusia Medieval event on 21st July, 2007. The first day of the event, before the re-enactment of the Ottoman attack, reconstructed the life of Carthusian monks.
  • Žiče Carthusian Monastery lies at the end of a narrow Žičnica stream valley. Its most important building is the Church of John The Baptist that lost its roof around 1840 during the years of abandonment after the monastery was closed. Only traces of living guarters can be seen left to the Otokar chappel. The founder of this monastery, his wife and son were buried here, but the tomb is now empty.
  • Actors playing Carthusian monks during the first day of the Fiery Carthusia Medieval event in 2007. The original rules of the order were obeyed inside the monastic walls. They wear authentic white clothes.
  • The herbal garden outside the monastic walls still exists today, and the herbs still provide home medicine that can be bought in the monastery.
  • Maids harvest herbs from the herbal garden outside the monastery. There used to be a heated greenhouse next to it. The burning fire in the basement of the greenhouse heated the floor. The house in the background is Gastuž, once a hospital, now the oldest restaurant in Slovenia.
  • The Ottomans drag a battering ram towards the heavy door of the Žiče Carthusian monastery, where the villagers and monks and lay brothers have hidden before. This was the climax of the two-day Fiery Carthusia Medieval event in 2007.
  • The Czech knight group Merlet plays the Ottoman knights duelling for the hand of a captured local woman inside the Žiče Carthusian monastery during the second day of the Fiery Carthusia event when the monastery was in the sultan's hands.
  • A monk is dragged out to be tortured during the 2007 Fiery Carthusia second day of re-enactment of the Ottoman attack on the Žiče Carthusian monastery on 13th March 1531. Historical data state that Ottomans tortured the monks and killed prior Andrej.
  • A monk is tortured on a rack during the re-enactment of the Ottoman invasion of the Žiče Carthusian monastery that took place in March 1531. Creative freedom allowed the organizers to make a hidden monastic treasure as the reason for attacking the monastery, and getting the monks to reveal its location the reason for torturing them.
  • The Ottomans wait to enter the monastery during the 2007 Fiery Carthusia Medieval event. The Ottomans that invaded the monastery in the evening of the first day of the Fiery Carthusia Medieval event were actually VIP visitors that were later entertained by fire breathers and allowed to sleep over in the monastery, but on hay as in the old times.
  • Tourists listen to the history of the Žiče Carthusian Monastery in the Otokar chappel where a large model of the mnastery is now on display.
  • Performers dressed as monks sing chorales written in the Žiče Carthusian Monastery for the first time since they were written in 1280. The high profile cultural performance was a part of a two-day Fiery Carthusia Medieval event in 2007.
  • Tourists touch the christening stone in the Church of John the Baptist to feel and fill themselves with energy. The monastery is known for its energy points at various places around the complex, but mostly inside the Church of John the Baptist.
  • The attendees of a spiritual camp lead by dr. Cvijeta Pahljina wait for the start of a mass in the ruined Church of John the Baptist in the background. The secluded location of the monastery is frequently used for artist and other gatherings.
  • Herbal medicine is still practiced in the monastery by the Iršič family who explain what anything is for to the tourists. They offer creams, drinks, tea etc.
  • A small portion of transcripts and manuscripts from Žiče Carthusian monastery was taken to Ljubljana, where it is now kept in the National University Library.
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