The Franciscan monastery in Novo Mesto was founded in 1472 by monks fleeing the Ottoman advance into the Balkans. They brought with them books, relics, and intellectual traditions that helped make Novo Mesto a significant cultural centre in the late medieval period. The monastery complex includes a church, a cloister, and an old library.
The cloister is a quiet, shaded courtyard with arcaded walkways — exactly the kind of place to escape the midday heat. The library holds a collection of medieval manuscripts and early printed books. Ask at the door whether the library is open to visitors on the day you arrive; access is sometimes restricted. The church itself is open most mornings and has some notable carved woodwork from the 17th and 18th centuries.