Franciscan Church & Monastery of St John the Baptist, Central Croatia, Croatia

4Karin and Filip 5:00 PM Jan 25, 2019

Franciscan Church & Monastery
The Franciscans are already mentionted in the 12th Century but the construction of this Monastery started in 1626. The tower was erected in 1641 and is the tallest in Varazdin (54.5m). The Church started in 1650 and was built on the site of a medieval church of Knight Hospitallers.

3periandro 5:00 PM Oct 8, 2017

Quiet church and monastery
The Franciscan Church is in baroque style, though at first sight one could think that its structure looks rather like that of a Romanesque church owing particularly to the architectural soberness of its façade and the small size of its few windows. The baroque elements in the portal are nevertheless apparent. The shape of the upper part of both that portal and the window over it as well as that of the other windows is a semicircle, and that’s again another feature causing hesitation about the church style. There are three niches on the main façade, one on each side of the portal and a larger one over the stated central window containing no statue whatsoever. On the side façade there is a sun clock which is really striking. The belfry tower is rather smart and imposing; it’s square shaped up to the tin belfry itself, whose shape is octagonal save the highest part topped by a cross which is bulbous. The church roof is rain diverter covered with red tiles. As far as the inner part of the temple is concerned, it can be outlined that it indicates that the church concerned is a single nave one. The ornaments and decoration of that part is very rich. The pulpit is delicately carved. Likewise some statues of the side chapels are beautiful, such as that of the Virgin with the Child. The baroque style of those side chapels is undeniable, among other reasons because of the shape of the columns at each side of the altars and their capitals of Corinthian order. In addition, the walls and the ceiling of two of them have been profusely decorated with stuccoes, what strengthens their baroque character. There are some paintings which are also worth being contemplated. The high altar reredos is superb. On the day the undersigned visited that church the chancel was under restoration and the reredos was concealed by a canvass reproducing it as well as the relevant sculptures. Unfortunately it was therefore impossible to behold the same in all their magnificence. The church is thus worth being visited. One ought to be advised however that it’s just open during the mass. That’s why it’s advisable to be aware of that fact and verify the mass timetable so that the temple may be visited immediately after the end thereof. The monastery is a peaceful place calling for rest and meditation. During the four days the undersigned was in Varaždin it was all the time closed. That’s why he couldn’t visit the premises. Only the court was open and being in it however one can already get an idea about the nature of the whole place. Peace and calm can already be enjoyed in that part of the monastery. One may most probably feel like staying there for some days.