The monastery's pharmacy features ceiling frescoes dating back to 1780, depicting medicinal scenes and portraits of famous doctors.
The building was originally a 16th-century moated castle belonging to the Counts of Attems.
The monastery is located in the municipality of Podčetrtek, near the border with Croatia.
The church interior contains one of the largest and most ornate Baroque altars in Slovenia.
The monks cultivate over 200 species of medicinal plants in the monastery garden.
The current Minorite residents returned to the site in 1990 after decades of church-state separation in Yugoslavia.
The pharmacy was founded by the Pauline order, who occupied the site before the Minorites.
Olimje Monastery is a former 16th-century castle converted into a Minorite monastery located in the Kozjansko region of Slovenia. The site is best known for its historic pharmacy, which is one of the oldest in Europe, established by the Pauline monks in the 17th century. The monastery church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, features a notable Baroque interior with black-and-gold altars created by sculptor Jurij Vodovnik. The monastery grounds include a well-tended medicinal herb garden maintained by the monks. The monks continue to produce and sell natural herbal teas and tinctures prepared using traditional methods. The complex is situated at the foot of the Rudnica hill, surrounded by managed parkland. It functions today as a spiritual retreat and a center for herbal medicine. The site maintains a connection to the noble Attems family, who significantly influenced the building's transition from a residence to a religious site.
The view of the main facade from the entrance gates, and the detailed murals within the Old Pharmacy room.
Visit the onsite shop to purchase herbal tea blends and natural ointments prepared by the monks.
Take a slow walk through the medicinal herb garden to identify plants often used in local folk remedies.
Respect the signage near the living quarters of the monks, as parts of the facility are private.
Do not treat the monastery as a standard tourist park; remember it is an active religious residence.
The pharmacy and church are generally accessible, but may have reduced access during private religious services or specific liturgical holidays.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor; shoulders and knees should be covered when entering the church.
