Kostanjevica na Krki

Kostanjevica na Krki stands on an island in the Krka, two streets wide and reached by bridges at either end, and it is usually described as the smallest town in Slovenia. On the bank outside sits a Cistercian monastery founded in 1234, dissolved in 1785 and left to decay, then restored around its very large arcaded cloister as the Božidar Jakac Gallery, which holds Slovenian twentieth-century painting and sculpture and a forma viva sculpture park in the grounds.

History

In the early 13th century the Carinthian duke Bernhard von Spanheim founded the Cistercian abbey of Fons Sanctae Mariae here; its church was built in 1234, the monastery was enlarged in Baroque style in the early 18th century and Joseph II dissolved it in 1785. The settlement is first called a town in 1210 and received market rights in 1249 (Wikipedia, Kostanjevica na Krki).

What's there

• The island town - two streets on an island in the Krka, reached by bridges.
• The Bozidar Jakac Gallery - Slovenian twentieth-century art in the restored monastery.
• The arcaded cloister - the very large courtyard of the former Cistercian house.
• The forma viva park - oak sculpture set in the monastery grounds.

When to go

April to October for the gallery and grounds; winter hours are reduced and Mondays are closed. Spring floods can put water over the island's approaches. Autumn light on the river is good.

Things to know

The gallery is a kilometre outside the town and the two are often confused. The island floods and roads can be closed after heavy rain. There is little else to do here.

Nearby

Brezice is east, and Otocec is northwest.

Key facts