Next to the river Bistra there was a small settlement, perhaps already in Roman times. Evidence of this was provided by archeologists who excavated some Roman tombstones and a very interesting inscription dedicated to the god Neptune. The origins of the monastery are closely related to the Carinthian Duke Bernard Spanheim, who invited the first members of the Carthusian order to the Carniola region around 1220. In 1255, through a benefaction, Bernard’s son, Ulrich Spanheim, secured the foundation of Carthusia Vallis Iocosa, as the abbey came to be known. The Bistra monastery, which reached its peak of power and influence in the 14th century, was – along with Žiče (1160), Jurklošter (1170) and Pleterje (1407) – one of the four estates of the Carthusian order on Slovenian territory. The National Library and University Library Ljubljana preserve a number of important illuminated manuscripts that were created here, including a transcript of Aurelius Augustinus’ De Civitate Dei dating from 1347.
Over the centuries, Bistra has been struck by numerous natural disasters, earthquakes and fires. Although not much remains of the original medieval structure, with the exception of a part of the small cloister (1449), much of the basic configuration of the original monastery can still be seen. A number of rooms and annexes led off from the little cloister, on the eastern side of which was a single-naved church (demolished in 1808). Beyond the church was the great cloister, around which the monks’ cells and dormitory quarters were arranged, and at its centre was the monastery cemetery. The church, great cloister and cemetery have long since disappeared and in their place there is now an open park.
In the 16th century, Bistra was complemented by a series of farm buildings built near the stream, while the two-story arcades, which cover much of the former small monastery square, are part of the 16th and 17th century reconstructions and additions. The Baroque Chapel of St. Joseph, which stands in the western wing of the complex next to the main entrance, is decorated with some exquisite ceiling stucco-work as well as late-18th century frescoes by Anton Cebej.
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