Ruins of the Augustinian Monastery
● Jasienica
With the arrival of the Augustinian monks in this region, the monastery was built in the 13th century. Following the Reformation, the building lost its religious function in the 16th century and fell into ruin. Its remains can be visited today.
The ruins represent one of the most beautiful examples of medieval monastic architecture in Western Pomerania. They owe their existence to the Augustinian Order, whose monks settled in this area in the mid-13th century. They began reclaiming the previously barren wetlands and regulated the flow of the Gunica River. They built a mill, raised sheep and pigs, cultivated hops, and operated several inns. By the end of the 13th century, they also owned a wooden church, which they later expanded. The monastery itself was built in the 14th century and consisted of two two-story wings and a church, creating an inner courtyard open to the west. The original Gothic complex, including the outer walls of the south and east wings up to the first floor and a vaulted cellar, has been preserved to this day.
With the Reformation in the 16th century, the Jasenitz monastery was secularized. From the end of the 17th century onward, it fell into increasing disrepair. In the mid-20th century, the upper floors were demolished. Today, the grounds of the ruins and the church are well-maintained and structurally secured. The interior of the ruins is overgrown with bushes and other wild plants, but the grounds and the ruins can be visited and explored. The preserved window arches and arcades are impressive testaments to the style in which the monastery was originally built. Part of it can be viewed from the outside, while the other part is accessible from the churchyard. The picturesque setting is often used as a backdrop for photography on a wide variety of occasions. For several years now, an Augustinian market has been held around this complex at the end of the summer vacation season. This medieval market is intended to keep the memory of life in those days alive. More recently, a reenactment of the Entombment of Jesus has been held on Holy Saturday. The church is easy to find from the street, as it sits on a small hill, while the monastery ruins themselves lie slightly lower down in its shadow.