Jasov has the biggest monastery complex in Slovakia and its main church, dedicated to St. John The Baptist, is considered one of the country's most important late-Baroque buildings. Though the present complex dates from the 18th century, there has been a monastery since 1170. The first, probably made of wood, was destroyed by the invading Tatars in 1242. A Romanesque stone monastery soon replaced it and was rebuilt in a fortified style in the 15th century. The site was then completely levelled again in 18th century to make way for the present Baroque structure.
The current monastery was designed by the architect Anton Pilgram in 1766. The lavishly ornamented interior of the monastic church in Baroque style, the library of monastery, and conserved French garden are especially valuable. The monastery has 365 windows, 12 chimneys and four gates (representing the days, months and seasons of the year).
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.