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Monastery · Nova Gorica, Goriška
Kostanjevica Monastery
A 17th-century Franciscan monastery on a hill above Nova Gorica, with the crypt where Charles X and other members of the Bourbon royal family are buried, a historic library and a collection of Bourbon roses.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Kostanjevica Monastery
The Kostanjevica Monastery sits atop a 143-meter hill that separates Nova Gorica’s center from the Pristava suburb, about 200 meters from the Italian border. A small Carmelite shrine was built there in 1623, and in 1649 Count Matija Thurn added the monastery. Today it is Franciscan. Locals often call it simply Kapela, the chapel.
In the crypt of the Church of the Annunciation are buried the last members of the main branch of France’s Bourbon royal house. Charles X, the last Bourbon king, deposed in 1830, went into exile in Gorizia and died there in 1836. Buried with him are his son Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, Marie Thérèse, daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and Henry, Count of Chambord, among others.
The monastery houses the Škrabec library of old books, named for the linguist Stanislav Škrabec, a friar who lived there more than 40 years. In the former garden by the south façade there is a collection of Bourbon roses, one of the largest public collections of these old roses in Europe. The church was heavily damaged in World War I and rebuilt afterward; from the churchyard you can see Gorizia Castle and the surrounding town.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour for the church, the crypt and the rose garden.
Best time
In May and June, when the roses are usually in bloom. The crypt and the library have separate opening hours; check before you go.
How to get there
It is about 1.5 km from Nova Gorica center, up a street that climbs the hill, with parking by the monastery. On foot it’s about 20 minutes.
Tip
Go up at the end of the afternoon: the churchyard is a good viewpoint over Gorizia and the Friuli plain.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Kostanjevica Monastery
Who is buried in the Kostanjevica monastery?
Charles X, the last Bourbon king of France, and other family members, such as the Duke of Angoulême, Marie-Thérèse (daughter of Louis XVI), and the Count of Chambord.
Why was Charles X buried in Nova Gorica?
After being deposed in 1830, he went into exile in Gorizia, then part of the Austrian Empire, and died there in 1836. He was buried in the crypt of the Kostanjevica monastery.
When do the roses of Kostanjevica bloom?
Generally in May and June. The collection includes Bourbon roses, old varieties from the 19th century.