Northeast of Daruvar, not far from the villages of Donja Vrijeska and Mala Maslenjača, at an altitude of 160 m, there is the oldest Gothic building dedicated to Saint Anna. The history of this small monastery church begins in 1412, when the nobleman Benedikt Nelipić, the owner of the Dobra Kuća castle, built the church and the monastery and donated it, along with the surrounding land, to the Catholic Pauline Order. Life in the monastery lasted until the invasion of the Turks in 1542. After that, the Paulines left the monastery, which remained empty and ruined until it was inhabited by monks from the Pakra monastery in 1732. In 1904, the Provincial Government of Croatia, on the initiative of Isa Kršnjavi, renovated the church and in 1906, when a new iconostasis was made, it was handed over to the Pakra monastery. The iconostasis was made by a craftsman from Zagreb, while the frames were made by an unknown carpenter from Pakrac. Since 2002, gradual work has been carried out on the restoration of the Monastery.
Pilgrims and those seeking history, past and mysteries can find various localities and interesting churches, old forts and castles here. The research of old places and abandoned localities contributes to the preservation of heritage because it raises awareness of their importance and the need for protection. Getting away from the stressful city hives and walking the traces of the past is also a great way to spend your free time and learn something new. So, welcome!
