White towers
Dark-roofed towers rising over the meadows.
Ajznponar — CC0 · Ajznponar — CC0 · Ajznponar — CC0 · Ajznponar — CC0 · Ajznponar — CC0
Žiče Charterhouse is a historic monastery in a narrow, quiet valley known as the Valley of St John the Baptist in northeastern Slovenia. It was the first Carthusian house in the German sphere of influence of its day, and the first of the order outside France or Italy. Its remains now stand among green meadows and forest. It was founded between 1155 and 1165 by Ottokar III, Margrave of Styria, and his son Duke Ottokar IV, who were both buried here, and its foundation deed of 1165 survives in the Styrian archive in Graz. The lay monk Aynard came from the Grande Chartreuse to guide the building work. As at the first French charterhouses, two monasteries were built, an upper and a lower. A legend tells of Ottokar dreaming that St John ordered him to build here, and of a rabbit that leapt into his lap and gave the place its old name, Seiz, a folk explanation rather than history. Today you see white towers with dark roofs and the stone walls of the church and enclosure, along with the chapter hall and a lapidarium of carved architectural fragments from the monastery. The site lies about 12.5 km from Celje and 33.4 km from Maribor in a straight line. It keeps a religious and historic character, so dress modestly and speak quietly. You will generally need a car to get here, and the grass calls for suitable shoes after rain.
Dark-roofed towers rising over the meadows.
An upper and a lower house, as at the first charterhouses.
Carved architectural fragments from the monastery.
Špitalič, Municipality of Slovenske Konjice, Slovenia
No, it is now a historic site open to visitors rather than a working house.
A car is easiest, since it sits in a small valley about 12.5 km from Celje in a straight line.