Just a few kilometres from the city centre, on a rock above the right bank of the Trebišnjica River, surrounded by cypresses, palm trees, olive trees, and grapevines, lies the oldest living monastery in Herzegovina.

History of the Monastery

According to tradition, the Tvrdoš Monastery was founded by Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena, which places the oldest parts of the monastery in the 4th century. It is believed that the first church on the rock where Apostle Paul preached the Gospel while travelling through Roman provinces and spreading Christianity was built there. Four pillars that support the dome of today's church dedicated to the Assumption of the Holy Virgin are based on the foundations of that first one-nave building. Parts of the foundation of that first walled building are visible through the glass on the narthex.

Since the time of Saint Sava and the establishment of the Humska bishopric in Ston in the 13th century, Tvrdoš has become one of the most respected monasteries of the old Serbian territories of Travunija and Zahumlje.

The monastery's multi-centennial history has been marked by heavy casualties, but also by great donors who always restored its former glory. Among them are great figures of Serbian history such as King Milutin Nemanjić and Duke Stefan Vukčić Kosača. King Milutin completely renovated the temple by extending it to the east, adding three apses instead of one, so that the nave had the basis of an inscribed cross, a specific feature of medieval Serbian architecture.

Herceg Stefan built the Hercegs inn, and significantly fortified the monastery. Their donations are only partially visible as later conquerors did not spare the temple or its surroundings, and subsequent renovations led to many changes in architecture and frescoes.

The monastery underwent the most extensive renovation at the beginning of the 16th century under Metropolitan Visarion, only to experience its greatest destruction in the conflict between the Venetians and the Turks at the end of the next century, when the monastery church and surrounding buildings were destroyed in an explosion. Thanks to the monks, who withdrew to Savina near Herceg Novi on time, numerous monastery relics were saved.

The monastery ruins defied time for more than two centuries, waiting for the liberation of Herzegovina and a new patron. In the 1920s, Nikola Runjevac, a wealthy Trebinian, donated funds to renovate the church and the old inn. Although renovated, the monastery would only come to life decades later when, due to the outbreak of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the seat of the bishop of Zahumlje-Herzegovina and the Littoral was moved from Mostar to the monastery of Tvrdoš. The new role of the monastery marked the beginning of spiritual and material renewal, as the church was renovated, new konaks were built, vineyards were planted, and new cellars were built.

The Monastery today

Tvrdoš Monastery is particularly recognized as a place where a young man named Stojan Jovanović from the nearby village of Mrkonjić, one of the most respected Orthodox saints - Saint Vasilije Ostroški and Tvrdoški, practised and received monastic tonsure. Today, Tvrdoš is part of the pilgrimage route "Path of Saint Vasilije", which is visited by Orthodox believers from all over the world, paying homage to the saint, the magnificent temple and the relics within the temple, among which is the hand of an unknown saint, probably Jelena Anžujska, mother of kings Milutin and Dragutin Nemanjić.

You will often find people of different nations and religions alongside Orthodox believers in the monastery, who, attracted by the beautiful Mediterranean environment, the beauty of the temple, but also the scent of wine that is only slightly sensed upon entering the old monastery cellar, will stay longer than they had planned.

The Monastery Winery

The tradition of producing monastery wines dates back to ancient times, as evidenced by the monastery chronicles from the 16th century and an old epic poem that states: "the monastery cells are full of wine." The most important witness is the restored cellar, which archaeologists have determined dates back to the time of Saint Basil.

The long and demanding process of creating wine requires, in addition to great love and attention in every drop, professional supervision and constant quality control, which is the responsibility of the monks and employees at the winery. On over 160 hectares of vineyards in Petrov and Popov fields, the local varieties of Vranac and Zilavka are carefully cultivated, as well as well-known international varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah and others. Every detail from the vine to the barrel is strictly monitored because only the highest quality grapes can produce premium wine.

The most famous Tvrdos wine is the multiple award-winning Vranac, which, among other things, won a gold medal from the prestigious wine magazine "Decanter" for the Great Reserve in 2009 in competition with about 17,000 wines from around the world.

Hum and Zilakva are two other wines from the Tvrdos cellar that have been awarded "Decanter's" silver and bronze medals.

Tvrdoš wines are exported to twenty countries around the world, so even residents of distant regions such as Australia, China or Japan can enjoy them.

If you love good wine, we recommend a tasting in the authentic atmosphere of the monastery cellars. Surely, the striking aromas of dark forest fruit with subtle chocolate tones offered by the wine Hum, or the wine with a picturesque Old Slavic name and fruity character with a mild hint of nuts like Izba will enchant you.

In recent years, olives have been grown on monastery properties and olive oil produced. These are still small quantities for their own use, but there is a plan for the expansion of olive groves.

There are also beehives in the monastery surroundings, which by collecting pollen from medicinal plants on the Herzegovinian karst, give honey of the highest quality in which the powerful aromas of thyme, sage, and juniper intertwine.

All monastery products can be found in the shop at the entrance to the monastery complex, where friendly hosts will help you choose the right wine, honey, mead, book, or souvenir.

Regardless of whether you come to the monastery as a pilgrim, a traveller, or by chance, from this wonderful place, you will surely take away some beautiful memories - warmth in the heart, peace in the soul, beautiful photographs, a bottle of top-quality wine, or a monastery souvenir.