A HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CENTRE
Kostanjevica includes at least three cultural and spiritual experiences. It is a place of ecclesiastical art and a centre of spirituality (church and monastery); it is a historical centre (the Tombs of the Bourbons) and cultural centre (the monastery library). The Franciscan Fathers have maintained these treasures for almost 200 years.
The independent vicaritat, established on Kostanjevica in 1947, was elevated to the status of the parish of Nova Gorica – Kapela in 1953. Between 1950 and 1964, Kostanjevica was the headquarters of the Apostolic Administrator for the Slovenian part of the Archdiocese of Gorica.
The tombs of the last members of the French royal family of the Bourbons can be found in the crypt of the church of Kostanjevica. These nobles were exiled from France in the revolution of 1830. At first, they found refuge in Edinburgh, Scotland; from there they went to Prague, in the current Czech Republic. Finally, they came to Gorica where they were received as the guests of Count Coronini. When they died, they were buried here and for this reason, Kostanjevica is known as the “Little St. Denis”.
