The Site

Located in Slovenia’s Lower Carniola region, Stična Monastery is the oldest monastic complex in the country which is still inhabited by a monastic community, with a history dating back to 1136. Founded by the Cistercian Order, the monastery played an important role as a religious, cultural, and economic centre for the surrounding region. Over the centuries, monastic life, architectural transformations, and scholarly pursuits have shaped Stična into a site of immense historical and artistic value, making it one of Slovenia’s most important heritage landmarks.

The monastery’s architectural ensemble reflects a rich variety of styles, bearing witness to nearly nine centuries of continuous evolution. Its cloister and basilica, the oldest surviving structures, date to the Romanesque period, while later additions incorporate elements of Gothic and Baroque design, illustrating the monastery’s transformation over the centuries. One of the most important historical features of Stična is its scriptorium, active since the 12th century, where monks meticulously produced and preserved manuscripts and theological texts. Remarkably, over thirty manuscripts from the Romanesque period have survived, stored today in various collections. Among them is a 15th-century manuscript containing early examples of Slovene writing, one of the oldest known sources of the Slovene language.

Following the dissolution of the monastery in 1784 under the reforms of Emperor Joseph II, Stična was abandoned by the monastic community. However, in 1898, the Cistercians returned, and the monastery has remained an active religious institution ever since. Today, it continues to function as a place of worship, monastic life, and heritage preservation, with the basilica and monastery complex designated as a national monument. As Stična approaches its 900th anniversary in 2036, it remains a living testament to Slovenia’s cultural and intellectual heritage.

Within the monastery, the Slovene Museum of Christianity serves as the country’s primary institution for the study, collection, and exhibition of movable religious and cultural heritage. Housed in the former prelacy building, constructed between 1589 and 1606, the museum provides an in-depth perspective on Slovenia’s Christian heritage, monastic traditions, and the artistic and scholarly contributions of the Cistercians.

This setting makes Stična an exceptional site for heritage conservation and educational initiatives, offering visitors and professionals alike the opportunity to engage with centuries of history, architecture, and heritage in a truly unique environment.

 

The Training Course

The European Heritage Training Course at Stična Monastery will focus on the conservation and restoration of historic stone surfaces, integrating practical conservation work with a comprehensive educational programme.

The training course is linked to ongoing international heritage initiatives of the Cisterscapes network, a transnational heritage initiative that explores the shared cultural landscape of Cistercian heritage across Europe. Stična Monastery is one of over twenty monastic landscapes included in this network, which highlights the historical, architectural, and environmental connections between Cistercian sites, offering a framework for cross-border cooperation in research, conservation, and public engagement.

The Cisterscapes network holds the European Heritage Label which is awarded to heritage sites of symbolic European value that reflect the common cultural roots of the continent and heritage ensembles that illustrate shared European narratives. Cistercian landscapes stand symbolically for this since they collectively shaped monastic traditions, architectural development, and land management across multiple countries.

The training course will engage with these themes, reinforcing the broader European significance of Stična Monastery as a site where conservation work supports both the protection of tangible heritage and the recognition of its place within a wider cultural network.

The participants will engage in hands-on conservation work at three distinct areas located in direct vicinity to each other: the central entrance portal, the two stone pyramids, and the historic bridge in front of the monastery. These elements contribute to the architectural and historical character of Stična Monastery and require targeted conservation interventions to address material deterioration and environmental impact.

Under the guidance of experienced stone conservation specialists from the Slovene Restoration Centre, participants will engage in a range of carefully planned restoration tasks, including the removal of surface coatings, biological growth, and inappropriate past modifications, alongside structural consolidation, crack repair, and the conservation of metal components in contact with stone. The process will integrate traditional stone working methods with modern conservation approaches, ensuring both the aesthetic and structural stability of these historic features while maintaining the authenticity of the original elements.

Beyond the hands-on work, the educational programme will provide theoretical knowledge essential for stone conservation and restoration. Participants will explore topics such as historical masonry techniques, the causes of stone deterioration, the environmental and biological factors affecting stonework, and conservation ethics. Special emphasis will be placed on the scientific aspects of conservation, with practical demonstrations of stone cleaning methods, material analysis, and appropriate interventions for different types of damage.

In addition, contextual information related to the significance and the sensitivity of conservation interventions at religious heritage sites will be provided.

The programme will be completed by guided visits throughout Stična Monastery as well as to relevant heritage sites in the region. Within the monastery complex, guided tours will provide insights into the architectural evolution of Stična Monastery, its role in the monastic tradition, and its broader significance within the Cistercian network. An excursion Kostanjevica na Krki, another historic Cistercian abbey which is also part of the Cisterscapes Network, will further enrich participants' understanding of Cistercian heritage and the interconnections between religious landscapes in Europe.

A highlight of the training course will be a visit to the Slovene Restoration Centre in Ljubljana, where participants will gain insight into conservation and restoration techniques, topic-related research, and ongoing conservation-restoration projects.

As part of the educational programme, one element will be the participants’ presentations, where participants will share case studies on stone conservation projects at heritage sites from their home countries. This component of the training course encourages knowledge exchange and professional dialogue, allowing participants to reflect on the diversity of approaches to stone conservation across different cultural contexts.

 

The training course will take place from August 3rd to August 16th, 2025, and is jointly organised by European Heritage Volunteers and the Slovene Museum of Christianity, in collaboration with the Cistercian Abbey of Stična, the Slovene Restoration Centre Ljubljana, and the European Heritage Label Bureau.