Fojnica Franciscan Friary, Fojnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Franciscan monastery of the Holy Spirit is a Bosnian Franciscan monastery in Fojnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was founded in 1668 and it includes a library of ca. 12,500 volumes, including 13 incunabula and 156 works written in Bosnian Cyrillic. It is a designated National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Franciscan Province of Bosna Srebrena.

The monastery's museum collections holds the 15th century Ahd-Namah (the Order) of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror guaranteeing security and freedom to the Franciscans. This document allowed the Franciscans of the day to preach freely among the Catholics in BiH, which in turn enabled the preservation of Bosnian Catholicism through the centuries.

The museum also houses the Book of Coats of Arms, dating from 1304, probably one of the oldest books in the region, with historical coats of arms of some Balkan countries and of then-prominent Bosnian families. A rare numismatic collection is also on exhibit.

Most of the works are philosophical and theological, printed from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The library's archive preserves more than 3,000 documents from the Ottoman Empire, with 13 of them dating back to 1481.

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User Reviews

snježana škrablin (15 months ago)
Lot to learn about Helm ( Balkan) hystory

Edin Avdic (16 months ago)
This place is absolutely amazing..

Ferid Jusufovic (2 years ago)
The Francican Monastery and the musem are trully a plece that has that unique and special feel to it. The Monastery together with museum are the keeper of rich history of Bosnia and Herzegovina. If you are planing visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina this place is a must to visit.

Ümit Ç. (2 years ago)
A beautiful monastery and museum with amazing artifacts. It is said that it is already used for a number of meetings. There are priests and nuns on duty. Definitely go.

Luka Dumic (2 years ago)
Really nice place to learn about the history of the area! Also located in a beautiful part of Bosnia.

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Fojnica Franciscan Friary

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