the search
SOME CELTIC SITES TO VISIT
The places listed below contain rich samplings of Celtic culture. If you have the chance to visit, we recommend these highly from our own personal experience. There’s nothing like being on-site! Click below to jump to a country
AUSTRIA
ASPARN-AN-DER-ZAYA MAMUZ
OPEN-AIR ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
PRE-CHRISTIAN
Reconstructed from the archaeological excavations at nearby Sandberg and representing several eras up to the Iron Age, the Celtic village makes you want to move into it. The museum in the castle right next to the village contains remarkable medical instruments, technology and art.
From excavations at Sandberg,
ancient Celtic settlement
Pre-Christian
Amid rolling hills of vineyards, this Celtic village clearly must have enjoyed the fruits of their labor. Evidence of the community wine cellar in the middle of town shows ancient wine technology, storage and consumption.
Frauenstein castle
a remote & stunningly beautiful area
Remote and hidden away, this castle probably served as refuge for women during the hundreds of years that they were hunted and burned as witches. Multiple castle ruins in this sector are reachable from this point by hiking trails and may have comprised a system of fortified safe houses. This one is under restoration.
Keltenwelt at Frög
Celtic burial grounds & museum
A beautiful setting allows the visitor a sense of Celtic ways, with a multitude of displays and artifacts well presented in the museum.
Magdalenaberg,
ancient Celtic gold mining settlement
Pre-Christian
Step into the Celtic world on a sublime mountaintop. Explore the actual site, a museum of remarkable remembrance and hospitable, knowledgeable Gasthaus..
Maria Saal, Gailtaler Heimatmuseum,
the Duke’s Chair
Pre-Christian
The 7th century duchy of Carantania conducted democratic proceedings in choosing their duke or duchess to be their leading official. The candidate had to sit in this chair and answer questions about whether he or she would act fairly, and then receive a slap in the face representing the public’s right to object.
Piber festive hall & Lippizaner center
The care and decoration of horses is prevalent in Celtic artifacts. In Piber, what is now a church but probably the former festive hall, sits right next to the stables of the famed Lipizzaner horses that are also heralded at their Slovenian location in Lipica. The ceiling ribbing, repeated throughout the Celtic world, is highlighted by a contrasting color with a medallion at the intersection
Rein Abbey near Graz
probably a former Celtic abbey
This abbey was probably built and run by Celts, but then overtaken by the church state. When Celtic, it likely served as a learning center for both academic and vocational pursuits, a fortified complex that welcomed wayfarers. After conquest, abbeys would be turned into the master-servant, male-domineering system from the egalitarian one.
Belgium
AULNE ABBEY
MEROVINGIAN-CAROLINGIAN
By setting and layout, this abbey could as easily be in England or Slovenia – From the quality of the masonry to repeating arches and towers, Celtic preferences abound here.
Bruges, Basilica
now named Basilica of the Holy Blood,
where last Duke of Burgundy lay in state
15th century
Gilded, colorful, finely crafted ceiling, pillars and arches emblematize Celtic style.
Bruges, Cloth Hall museum
15th century
It’s easy to imagine the interior courtyard of this fortified textile market bustling with stands of fine fabrics from all over Europe. Its tall tower can be seen from everywhere, signaling both the importance of the building and the need to keep watch.
Bruges,
Oud Sint-Jan hospital museum
15th century
Canals and building reflect Celtic styles and skills. Triangular facades and decorative door and window treatment as well as the quality of the craft is consistent throughout Europe.
Brussels, Cinquantenaire
Museum of the Royal Museums for Art & History
15th century holdings
La Jeunesse d’Hercule tapestry evidences the importance of the Hercules legend in Celtic culture. This museum contains a loom and substantial collection. Buses run from Old Town out to this area of town.
Brussels, Coudenberg Museum
15th century & earlier
17th century rendering of Coudenberg. High-ceilinged, expansive, and replete with arched, striped doorways, the castle cellars have been excavated from underneath a parking lot and form part of the museum, even though the rest of the building was long-since destroyed.
BRUSSELS, HALLE GATE
15TH CENTURY
City gates in Brussels attest to the severity of the threat faced in 15th century Burgundy, as well as the building expertise. Note the conical slate roof of the towers, the scalloped edgings, detail, balance and elegance of the construction.
Brussels, Royal Library of Belgium
15th century Collection
5 volumes list works belonging to the Dukes of Burgundy collection. The exquisitely crafted Books of Hours of the Duke of Berry and hundreds of illuminated manuscripts shine a light into the beauty of 15th century living before the Hapsburg Empire cast Europe back into the dark feudalistic church state.
Ghent, Gravensteen Museum
15th century & earlier
Canals, towers and triangular facades exhibit Celtic style and skill. Hydrology constituted an important part of the defensive system, as well as connecting with other cities and towns for trade by waterway.
Kortrijk (Courtrais)
Catherine’s Chapel
This portrait of a fallen couple is a detail of one of the 3 walls of panels depicting full-body, full-scale decorated men and women warriors. At the entry to the hall stands a rare sculpture of Charlemagne. Nearby, a statue of Catherine holds an 8-spoked wheel, an invention that is celebrated as a recurring theme across the Celtic world.
Kortrijk (Courtais)
City Hall
Heraldry and intricate wood and stone carving suggest Celtic origin in this exquisite city hall chamber. On the mural, finely-clad women are depicted in active roles with their heads up. The entire beautifully-designed building is open to the public.
Tournai Archaeological Museum
This small gem of a museum contains a mock-up of the burial chamber of Childeric, a 5th century, Frankish, Merovingian leader, that was excavated near Tournai, as well as many artifacts from that era.
Tournai Tapestry Museum
A woman literally holds her tongue while being dragged from her hearth in this tapestry detail. It feels as though these tapestries are still trying to speak to the world.
Czechia
Františkovy Lázne Frankish spa town described by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as “heaven on earth”
Celtic-Frankish on-going
Thermal bath resort town, a comprehensive approach to wellness with parks, therapeutic programs, extensive trails in beautiful natural settings..
Karlovy Vary, Frankish spa town
Celtic-Frankish on-going
This jewel of a hot springs resort town bears Charlemagne’s name. With its gracious pavilions that shelter mineral water fountains, ornate, intricate ironwork and bridges that crisscross the river, it still stands as one of Europe’s greatest treasures.
Loket
medieval
Snugly tucked into the river loop, this charming town defines the defensible location. It is set in a lovely park.
Mariánské Lázné
Celtic-Frankish on-going
The hilltop park is the centerpiece in this lovely spa town.
france
Alésia Celtic Museum and Archaeological Park
Pre-Christian
Chalice found at site displays intricate, decorative metallurgy with natural motifs. This is the site where Romans starved thousands of Celts to death. The museum shows Asterix comic books that portray the battles of Romans and Celts. Valuable information is also displayed about the imaging technology that finally led to the discovery of this battleground.
Beaune, Hospital Museum
15th century
Mother and child hailed by kneeling man amid mille-fleurs background. Honoring women and motherhood, anathema to Christianity’s degradation of women, marks this as Celtic. The building complex here is stunningly beautiful and wonderfully restored, with information about medical history as well as the vaunted wine auctions for charity.
Beaune, Dukes of Burgundy former residence
now wine museum
Wine presses, barrels and other related equipment from the 15th century are displayed here from the era when Burgundian leadership based in Brussels, but also maintained a presence in what is now French Burgundy.
Bibracte, Hillfort & Museum of Celtic Civilization
Pre-Christian
Wooded hilltops in Bibracte region recall refuge from attack that the high forests provided Celts. This was the area to which Julius Caesar repaired after starving out Alesia. The outsize Roman villa dominated the previously same-sized housing units, and the population dissipated..
Bourges, Museum of Natural History
Pre-Christian
Natural motifs are rhythmically shown and bordered, Celtic-style. The museum here contains an extensive collection of gravestones from a Celtic settlement.
Carcassonne castle museum
Pre-Christian & medieval
Conical-roofed tower in Frankish style in Carcassone stems from the time when the Church mounted a years-long Crusade against the Cathars here. This area is also known for its Merovingian treasures.
Châtillon-sur-Seine, Museum with Vix treasures
Pre-Christian
The museum here displays contents of an Iron Age woman’s burial chamber, including a golden torque and 6-foot tall wine crater. Other grave findings include horses and decorations buried with their owners. Items on display are extensive and wide-ranging.
Flavigny
Carolingian crypt
Arched doorways, staircases and superb masonry still characterize this Carolingian crypt of some 12 centuries ago. The town itself is charming, a museum in itself.
Fontenay Abbey
medieval
Iron forge in grand space reflects Celtic regard for manual labor, in marked contrast with Roman attitudes that physical labor was for slaves. Here production is honored and elevated by its surroundings.
Germigny-des-Prés
Carolingian
Model of 9th century Carolingian building, probably a festive hall with large round space perfected suited to a banquet table. The high windows of the central tower bring light into the entire space at all times of day. The structure is set in a surrounding garden.
Issoire, now called church of Saint-Austremoine
medieval
Rhythmic medallions and motifs, arched, striped doorway, the balance “libra” all suggest Celtic origin. Issoire is in the Auvergne region, home of Vercingetorix, who came to the aid of Alesia. He was taken back to Rome and dragged to death behind a chariot in the coliseum.
Lille, Hospices Comtesse Museum
15th century
Brightly colored and decorated Lille hospital from the 15th century accentuates door and window framing with striping to suggest arches and window quoins of alternating colors of brick. Lille was a seat of the Burgundian leaders in the 15th century. Hospitals are part of their legacy.
Lille, Rihour Palace, Dukes of Burgundy
15th century
Rihour palace from 15th century Burgundy features vaulted ceiling in great hall and Frankish-style tower with conical roof.
Monthermé, Abbey of Laval Dieu
12th century
Dancing woman with shell radiating around her head, pentacle, triangular facade with spirals, brick corner quoins, spirals on crosspiece decoration on roof, all point to Celtic origination.
Paris
Cité Museum of Architecture
Recently opened at Trocadero, the Cité houses a large collection of full-scale replicas, models, cutaways, and videos that allow examination of monuments in multi-dimensional ways.
Paris, Cluny National Museum of the Middle Ages
Pre-Christian & medieval
All 6 Lady and the Unicorn tapestries with mille-fleurs background are on display at a newly-fashioned space. The tapestries contain myriad allegorical references and are precisely and expertly designed and crafted. This one might show Marie of Burgundy, last of the Burgundian leaders, distraught by what she sees in history’s mirror. Marie and her niece are credited with saving the 15th century library collection by spiriting it away to Spain.
Paris, Archaeological Crypt of the Parvis of Notre Dame
Pre-Christian & medieval
One of the most surprising aspects of these excavations that were found during a renovation of Notre Dame is the extensive hospital and care facilities. These ruins are attributed to the Gallic, or Celtic, era around the time of the Roman takeover.
Paris, Conciergerie
Medieval
This island in the Seine is probably the longest inhabited area in Paris, since such islands were most highly-prized for defensive capabilities. Medieval aspects have been restored and opened as a museum.
Paris, Sainte Chappelle
The Sainte Chappelle features vaulted ceilings with gilded ribs and bright colors favored by Celts. Many of the sculptures of females on the rhythmical pedestals around the room have been defaced.
Abbaye des Prémontrés
Once again welcoming wayfarers of both genders, this abbey is now open to the public for overnight stays and enjoyment of its beautifully restored gardens. In the Lorraine area of France, the Hapsburgs long held sway.
Saint Denis
Basilica of St. Denis
Column capital of monk and terrified naked subject in crypt dating back to Merovingian era. St. Denis also holds many references to early Turkish and Middle Eastern connections.
Saint Germain des Près, part of former abbey
Pre-Christian & medieval
Brightly-colored and gilded ribs of vaulted ceiling, circular light fixtures, rhythmical designs all point to the Celtic origin prior to the Christian conquest of Paris.
Saint Germain-en-Laye National Archaeological Museum
Pre-Christian & medieval
Celts favored this 3-pronged treskele design, shown here as a necklace. A rich and diverse collection of artifacts and information is contained here. Attached parks and gardens were designed by André le Notre. St. Germain-en-Laye is an easy RER ride out of Paris.
france
Alésia Celtic Museum and Archaeological Park
Pre-Christian
Chalice found at site displays intricate, decorative metallurgy with natural motifs. This is the site where Romans starved thousands of Celts to death. The museum shows Asterix comic books that portray the battles of Romans and Celts. Valuable information is also displayed about the imaging technology that finally led to the discovery of this battleground.
Beaune, Hospital Museum
15th century
Mother and child hailed by kneeling man amid mille-fleurs background. Honoring women and motherhood, anathema to Christianity’s degradation of women, marks this as Celtic. The building complex here is stunningly beautiful and wonderfully restored, with information about medical history as well as the vaunted wine auctions for charity.
Beaune, Dukes of Burgundy former residence
now wine museum
Wine presses, barrels and other related equipment from the 15th century are displayed here from the era when Burgundian leadership based in Brussels, but also maintained a presence in what is now French Burgundy.
Bibracte, Hillfort & Museum of Celtic Civilization
Pre-Christian
Wooded hilltops in Bibracte region recall refuge from attack that the high forests provided Celts. This was the area to which Julius Caesar repaired after starving out Alesia. The outsize Roman villa dominated the previously same-sized housing units, and the population dissipated..
Bourges, Museum of Natural History
Pre-Christian
Natural motifs are rhythmically shown and bordered, Celtic-style. The museum here contains an extensive collection of gravestones from a Celtic settlement.
Carcassonne castle museum
Pre-Christian & medieval
Conical-roofed tower in Frankish style in Carcassone stems from the time when the Church mounted a years-long Crusade against the Cathars here. This area is also known for its Merovingian treasures.
Châtillon-sur-Seine, Museum with Vix treasures
Pre-Christian
The museum here displays contents of an Iron Age woman’s burial chamber, including a golden torque and 6-foot tall wine crater. Other grave findings include horses and decorations buried with their owners. Items on display are extensive and wide-ranging.
Flavigny
Carolingian crypt
Arched doorways, staircases and superb masonry still characterize this Carolingian crypt of some 12 centuries ago. The town itself is charming, a museum in itself.
Fontenay Abbey
medieval
Iron forge in grand space reflects Celtic regard for manual labor, in marked contrast with Roman attitudes that physical labor was for slaves. Here production is honored and elevated by its surroundings.
Germigny-des-Prés
Carolingian
Model of 9th century Carolingian building, probably a festive hall with large round space perfected suited to a banquet table. The high windows of the central tower bring light into the entire space at all times of day. The structure is set in a surrounding garden.
Issoire, now called church of Saint-Austremoine
medieval
Rhythmic medallions and motifs, arched, striped doorway, the balance “libra” all suggest Celtic origin. Issoire is in the Auvergne region, home of Vercingetorix, who came to the aid of Alesia. He was taken back to Rome and dragged to death behind a chariot in the coliseum.
Lille, Hospices Comtesse Museum
15th century
Brightly colored and decorated Lille hospital from the 15th century accentuates door and window framing with striping to suggest arches and window quoins of alternating colors of brick. Lille was a seat of the Burgundian leaders in the 15th century. Hospitals are part of their legacy.
Lille, Rihour Palace, Dukes of Burgundy
15th century
Rihour palace from 15th century Burgundy features vaulted ceiling in great hall and Frankish-style tower with conical roof.
Monthermé, Abbey of Laval Dieu
12th century
Dancing woman with shell radiating around her head, pentacle, triangular facade with spirals, brick corner quoins, spirals on crosspiece decoration on roof, all point to Celtic origination.
Paris
Cité Museum of Architecture
Recently opened at Trocadero, the Cité houses a large collection of full-scale replicas, models, cutaways, and videos that allow examination of monuments in multi-dimensional ways.
Paris, Cluny National Museum of the Middle Ages
Pre-Christian & medieval
All 6 Lady and the Unicorn tapestries with mille-fleurs background are on display at a newly-fashioned space. The tapestries contain myriad allegorical references and are precisely and expertly designed and crafted. This one might show Marie of Burgundy, last of the Burgundian leaders, distraught by what she sees in history’s mirror. Marie and her niece are credited with saving the 15th century library collection by spiriting it away to Spain.
Paris, Archaeological Crypt of the Parvis of Notre Dame
Pre-Christian & medieval
One of the most surprising aspects of these excavations that were found during a renovation of Notre Dame is the extensive hospital and care facilities. These ruins are attributed to the Gallic, or Celtic, era around the time of the Roman takeover.
Paris, Conciergerie
Medieval
This island in the Seine is probably the longest inhabited area in Paris, since such islands were most highly-prized for defensive capabilities. Medieval aspects have been restored and opened as a museum.
Paris, Sainte Chappelle
The Sainte Chappelle features vaulted ceilings with gilded ribs and bright colors favored by Celts. Many of the sculptures of females on the rhythmical pedestals around the room have been defaced.
Abbaye des Prémontrés
Once again welcoming wayfarers of both genders, this abbey is now open to the public for overnight stays and enjoyment of its beautifully restored gardens. In the Lorraine area of France, the Hapsburgs long held sway.
Saint Denis
Basilica of St. Denis
Column capital of monk and terrified naked subject in crypt dating back to Merovingian era. St. Denis also holds many references to early Turkish and Middle Eastern connections.
Saint Germain des Près, part of former abbey
Pre-Christian & medieval
Brightly-colored and gilded ribs of vaulted ceiling, circular light fixtures, rhythmical designs all point to the Celtic origin prior to the Christian conquest of Paris.
Saint Germain-en-Laye National Archaeological Museum
Pre-Christian & medieval
Celts favored this 3-pronged treskele design, shown here as a necklace. A rich and diverse collection of artifacts and information is contained here. Attached parks and gardens were designed by André le Notre. St. Germain-en-Laye is an easy RER ride out of Paris.
St. Maur des Fossés
Extensive ruins and gardens from a Merovingian abbey that is reached fairly easily from Paris by train. A walk through the town brings you into the abbey district that includes a restaurant with a view into horse performance halls. This abbey was known for its stables.
Germany
Aachen, octagonal tower in Palatine Chapel
Carolingian
According to legend, Charlemagne the Frank was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in this hall in Aachen, or Aix-la-Chappelle. Given the ferocity with which the Franks sought freedom from Roman conquest and domination, however, it remains highly unlikely that Charles the Great would have submitted voluntarily to his ancestors’ arch-enemy.
Dargun Abbey, Mecklenburg
at least 12th century
Dargun Abbey features interior courtyard of multi-story galleries, typical of Frankish abbeys and castles.
Donnersberg ancient Celtic settlement site
Pre-Christian
Fortified town of same-size dwellings with forested hilltop shows no sign of outside royal residence.
Eberbach Abbey & wine cellar
medieval
Rhythmical, brightly-colored arches and windows adorn the courtyard of this abbey that sits just above the entry of the Rhine River onto the plains.
Eldena Kloster, Mecklenburg
12th century
Archways like these were commonly bricked in, presumably after imperial conquest, turning pavilions into enclosures.
Fulda, St. Michael’s Church crypt
& Vonderau Museum
Carolingian
Beneath what was probably a Celtic festival hall founded by Charlemagne, lie subterranean cellars, perhaps used for wine storage.
Glauberg Archaeological Park & Museum
late Hallstatt, early La Tène
Gold jewelry, coriander, bread-making – these are a few of the surprises from the ancient Celtic population here, now shared with the museum through excavations.
Heidelberg Museum of the Palatinate
Pre-Christian and medieval
This hill across the river from Heidelberg holds ancient Celtic burial grounds, many artifacts from which now form part of the local museum collection.
Heidengraben, Baden Württemberg
Pre-Christian ancient Celtic burial site
Hamlets like the one shown here apparently spread across hundreds of acres in this area. Only a small part is now being excavated.
Heuneburg, Celtic Museum
Pre-Christian
This festive hall belongs to the reconstructed fortified Iron Age village on the ridge over the Danube valley.
Hochdorf, Celtic Museum
Pre-Christian
Ceilings constructed with mathematical precision and aesthetics are one of the hallmarks of Celtic buildings, like this Iron Age example at Hochdorf.
Kornelimünster Abbey & fest hall
Carolingian
Colorful ribbing in the vaulting combine with natural motifs at the intersections to keep celebrants looking up in the original festive halls before conversion to churches.
Lorsch Abbey
Carolingian
Hexagons, diamonds and square tiles join with trompe-l’oeil pillars and archways in one of the abbeys founded by Charlemagne in the Odenwald.
Marburg Elizabethkirche, Hall-Church
Marburger Schloss (castle)
early medieval crossing of Cologne-Prague, North Sea to Alps routes
Transition from Celtic hall to Christian church can be detected here.
Mariaburg
From the highest point around, Mariaburg commands a view down the Mosel River. Burg is the German word for castle, and its location certainly indicates defensive placement.
Prüm Abbey
Carolingian
Rare surviving statue of female architect at an abbey from Charlemagne’s era, founded under his direction.
Speyer, Historical Museum of the Palatinate
Pre-Christian
Along with this spectacular golden hat, this museum contains a wealth of Celtic Iron Age artifacts garnered from excavations in the surrounding area.
Stuttgart, State Museum of Archaeology
Pre-Christian
Housed in a splendid old castle, this museum contains considerable golden Iron Age jewelry, gilded horns and other ornamentation.
Usedom, Stolpe Castle, Mecklenburg
plentiful Pre-Christian artifacts found in this area
Remarkable crafting in a castle, with nearby abbey and ferry dock.
Villingen Franziskanermuseum & site of tumulus excavation
Pre-Christian
Posts like these occur at other Celtic burial sites to mark the location. Finds from this site are on display at the museum.
Worms, Germany, Celtic “Borbetomagus,” on Rhine River, City Museum at the wall
Pre-Christian
A wealth of treasures await at the Worms in the museum located in the former Andreas Abbey. This city used to be the Burgundian capital.
Wysburg
Hard to find excavation, this site is valuable for its placards of archaeological information and the typically Celtic surrounds.
Luxembourg
Clairvaux Museum
Exhibits here allow valuable insights into Luxembourg’s castles, with numerous models. Explanations also point out that royalty took over the castles after conquest, but that the castles served defensive purposes beforehand, with their massive fortifications.
Titelberg
Remote and inaccessible, this active excavation of festive hall, market place, baths can be seen through fencing. A long hike from parking follows many miles on a one-lane dirt road.
Slovenia
Bled Castle Museum
Pre-Christian
Video presentations enrich the displays, and the building itself provides familiar Celtic style. The museum in this stunning setting welcomes guests to linger on its inviting terraces and restaurant, with traditional Celtic hospitality.
Bogensperk
Permanent and temporary exhibits enhance the understanding of this castle for which 17th century author and illustrator Janez Valvasor is renown. Wagensberg, in German, was also a home base for the Duchess of Mecklenburg, who prior to WWI uncovered thousands of Iron Age artifacts. Part of her collection belongs to Harvard’s Peabody Museum and Harvard Press has published a book about her finds in Slovenia and Hallstatt.
Celje, Castle on the hill, Counts of Celje
Pre-Christian & medieval
Both the fortifications here on the hilltop and the view they afford give a sense of Celtic love of beauty and their extensive defensive systems.
Celje, Regional Museum, Counts of Celje domain
medieval
From the 11th century, the Counts of Celje served as officials in the overall defensive system of duchies, with multiple counties constituting one duchy. This was their official residence.
Celje Archaeological Museum
This tombstone with a scene from the Trojan War is an example of the vast collection in the Archaeological Museum in Cell.
Ljubljana, National Museum
Pre-Christian
“Norico-Pannonian girl as shown on a funerary monument from Klagenfurt in southern Austria.” These and other displays from the first several centuries of the current era distinguish this rich collection of pre- and post- Roman occupation artifacts.
Metlika Museum
A collection like this in a surprising out-of-the-way refuge castle exemplifies both the importance and commonality of Celtic style.
Lower Carniola Museum,
or the Dolenjska Museum
in Novo Mesto
Horses prance along on a wine-mixing vessel, or situla, in the Dolenjska Museum in Novo Mesto, in an impressive collection of local Celtic artifacts.
Otocec Castle
Although the castle is now a private hotel on the island, the grounds and parklands remain open to the public. The courtyard is a perfect place for afternoon tea. Nearby thermal resort Šmarješke Toplice features parklands and connections with hiking trails. The island in the river and nearby Novo mesto in a loop in the river made prime defensible places.
Pleterje Abbey
An abbey still known for its spirits, namely distillations of fruits like pear, apple and plum, visitors are still welcomed into restricted areas of its operations. Products are for sale in the tourist shop.
Ptuj, Castle Museum
Pre-Christian & medieval
Said to be Slovenia’s oldest Roman town, the town known as Poetovia must have housed an earlier Celtic one until it was overtaken. The view of the Pannonian Plains is splendid on a clear day, and old town is fascinating. A pedestrian bridge over the river connects with a thermal resort.
Stična Abbey
Pre-Christian & medieval
Historically Stična was renown for its library and agriculture. The library was burned in the Middle Ages, consistent with the theory that the older abbeys began as Celtic bastions of learning. Roman Catholics notoriously burned books of peoples they were overtaking, for example throughout South America and the Phillipines.
Žiče Abbey
medieval
A center for illuminated manuscripts, pottery and wine, this complex also contains ruins of an old festive hall and hording. Gardens provided sustenance inside and outside the walls.