Hello guys,
We are going with me up on a hill, 143 meters above sea level.
At the top of that hill, stands the Franciscan Monastery of Kostanjevica (->map).
We are at the limit of the city of Nova Gorica.
The italian border and the city of Gorizia are just 200/300 meters away.
Once you’ll get there, you’ll see the “Franciscan monastery” and the “Church of the Annunciation of Mary”.
Some of you might be wondering why I am writting about this monastery.
Well, this monastery is really special because this is place where Charles X and his family have been buried in the 19th century.
Charles X was the last Bourbon king of France (between 1824 and 1830).
The House of Bourbon was a branch of the French Monarchy.
Charles X was the younger brother of Louis XVI (son of Louis XV and great-grandson of Louis XIV).
The royal family of Spain (descendants of Louis XIV) also belong the House of Bourbon.
I learned last year that mortal remains of Charles X and some members of his families are in the church’s crypt.
I was like “What … a former king of France is burried here, in Slovenia … no way!”.
I thought all the former kings of France were buried in France.
I was wrong. All of them …BUT ONE!
Why was he not buried in France ? What the hell happened ?
Well, let’s delve a bit into history to understand.
After the “July Revolution” of 1830 (in France), Charles X abdicated and went into exile.
He was probably affraid to end up like his big brother Louis XVI who was beheaded in 1793 during the French Revolution (july 1789 – Nov. 1799).
He first went to Scotland and then went several year in Prague and other places in the former Austrian Empire.
In 1835, one year before his death, Charles X and his family moved to the city of Görz, in the Austrian Empire (now called Gorizia, in the Italy).
Charles X really loved the Monastery of Kostanjevica and all that around it.
The monastery was just a few hundreds meters away from Görz/Gorizia.
He wished to be burried there after his death.
That is the reason why he and 5 members of his family were burried in the monastery.
The monatery is now located in Nova Goriza, in the Slovenian territory.
From the early 16th century to the end of WWI, Görz/Gorizia belonged to the Habsbourg Monarchy,
then the Austrian Empire and at last … to the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Between 1919 and 1945, the border moved and the monastery became part of the Kingdom of Italy.
The border moved once again after WWII and the monastery of Kostanjevica became part of the Yousgoslavian territory.
In 1991, the Socialist Republic of Slovenia (north west of Yugoslavia) declared independence and the Repubic of Slovenia was created.
Therefore, the border moved and the monastery of Kostanjevica has been attached to the Slovenian territory ever since.
After this quick historical review, let’s go to the top of that hill.
We are now in the parking lot, next to the monastery.
Look at the valley down below and you’ll see the city of Gorizia (in Italy) and Nova Gorizia (in Slovenia).
A bit further, you’ll see the city of Šempeter with its hospital (flashy green and pink colors).
The monastery is really stuck between Gorizia and Nova Gorica.
Now, leave the parking lot behind you and go straight ahead in the direction of the church.
You’ll see the entrance of the Church on your left and in front of you (a bit further), a big wooden door.
That door is not opened. You must ring doorbell so that one of the man working for the church comes and open the door.
You’ll just have to tell him that you came to visit the Crypt of the Bourbons and he’ll show you the way.
The entrance is free of charge.
You’ll have to go down one floor below and you’ll see a large hallway behind another wooden door.
I recommend that you take a good look at the Bourbons’ family Tree which is (somewhere) on the wall.
It will help you understand a bit more who is who because the Bourbon family is very extended.
At the end of the hallway, you’ll turn right and you’ll see a very narrow and dark hallway.
At the end of it, you’ll see a bit of light in a little room.
That is the crypt where Charles X and his family are resting in piece.
Six members of the Bourbon’s dysnasty are in the crypt :
-> Charles X (1757-1836):
Last but one king of France and last king of the Bourbon’s branch.
He was the younger brother of Louis XVI (who was beheaded in 1793 during the French revolution).
-> Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême (1775-1844):
Eldest son of Charles X.
-> Marie Thérèse Charlotte of France (1778-1851):
She was the daughter of Louis XVI.
She was married to “Louis Antoine”, eldest son of Charles X.
-> Henri, count of Chambord (1820-1883):
Grandson of Charles X.
-> Louise Marie Thérèse of Artois (1819-1864):
Granddaughter of Charles X, sister of Henry.
-> Marie Theresa of Austria-Erste (1817-1886):
She was the wife of Henri.
Another coffin is in a tiny space, on the right … in the narrow hallway (just a few meters from the crypt).
This is the coffin of Pierre Louis Jean Casimir de Blacas d’Aulps.
He was a diplomat and minister under Louis XVIII (big brother of Charles X and little brother of Louis XVI).
He remained closed to members of the Bourbon dynasty and followed them into exil in 1830.
I recommend you to walk a little all around the monastery to enjoy the view over the city.
To my knowledge, the monastery is not open to visitors but there is a lot of greenary all around it.
If you leave the parking lot behind your back and you go on the left side of the monastery,
you will be able to take a little stroll and see the city of Nova Gorica from above.
My tips for Kostanjevica:
1/Park your car Here.
2/ Go see the crypt of the last Bourbons of France.
3/ Go inside the Church of the Annunciation of Mary.
4/ Take a look around and from above to see Gorizia and Nova Gorica.