Gomirje Monastery

Gomirje Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery in western Croatia, in the village of Gomirje near the town of Ogulin in the Gorski Kotar region. It is regarded as the westernmost monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It belongs to the Eparchy of Gornji Karlovac and is dedicated to St John the Baptist.

Where is Gomirje Monastery?

The monastery stands in the western part of Croatia, close to the village of Gomirje and not far from Ogulin, at roughly 45.34° N, 15.11° E. It sits in a quiet, hilly corner between Zagreb and the Adriatic coast, which makes it an easy stop on the way to the sea or part of a Gorski Kotar road trip.

What is the history of the monastery?

The monastery's beginnings are tied to the year 1600. In that year Juraj Frankopan granted the depopulated village of Gomirje to 325 Serb refugees from the Udbina and Korenica areas, which were then under Ottoman rule. The site had earlier held a Frankopan castle with a church of St Mary, destroyed during the wars with the Ottomans. The settlers also served as defenders of the frontier.

Tradition says the first settlers brought six or seven monks from the Krka monastery in Dalmatia. This is a local legend rather than a confirmed fact. The monastery is dated to around 1600.

What is there to see?

The main monument is the church of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, built in 1719. It is a three-nave building with a semicircular apse, a dome and a bell tower at the front. The tower has its own story: in 1621 Vuk Krsto Frankopan built a tower beside the monastery, which was turned into a bell tower in 1719, with the church attached to it. Local tourist materials therefore call it the bell tower of monks and soldiers.

For anyone interested in sacred architecture and frontier history, it shows how the influence of the Frankopan family, Serb settlement and Orthodox tradition came together in one place.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gomirje Monastery an active Orthodox monastery? It is a Serbian Orthodox monastery in the Eparchy of Gornji Karlovac. Check current opening hours and visiting rules before you go, as this page gives no current details.

When was it founded? It dates to around 1600. The present church dates from 1719.

Is it really the westernmost Serbian monastery? Yes, it is described as the westernmost monastery of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

How do I get there? The monastery is near the village of Gomirje close to Ogulin. Driving is the most convenient option; head for Ogulin in Gorski Kotar.

Who will enjoy a visit? Readers interested in Croatian history, Orthodox church architecture and the Frankopan family, and travellers looking for quiet places away from the coast.