Kojsko: Church Art and History

Church Art and Architectural History

Kojsko brings together church art and a layered history of architecture and place. The Church of the Holy Cross above Kojsko was built around 1500; its bell tower resembles a small fortress. The church houses a Gothic winged altar from 1515, considered Slovenia’s only and largest almost completely preserved Gothic winged altar. From the church, panoramic views extend to the Alps and the Adriatic. Stations of the Cross chapels lead to it. The construction period, artwork, and view offer different points of reference for placing the site in time: the tower suggests a fortified form, the altar reflects late medieval art, while the view opens up the landscape’s horizon.

The parish church of the Assumption of Mary in Kojsko tells a different architectural story. In the second half of the 18th century, its Baroque section was added to a small Gothic church; only the choir from the late Gothic phase remains. Behind the altar is a Venetian-style curia dating from 1492. Count Coronini donated four valuable paintings, which, according to more recent studies, are considered works by the painter De Vito. To place the building in time, it is worth avoiding assigning all its parts to a single year of construction: the curia, late Gothic choir, and Baroque addition point to different phases. Here, architectural history becomes tangible not only through style names but also through the transition from an older structure to later additions.

Tabor, Castle, and Historical Traces

Kojsko also has tangible points of reference for its history of defense and rule. Tabor on Sveti Križ Hill originally had four defensive towers, built during the Ottoman incursions in the 16th century; the fourth tower is now the church bell tower. Lower Kojsko Castle was built in 1594 and had lower-court jurisdiction. Numerous inscription plaques and stone coats of arms at the greatly reduced Lower Kojsko Castle bear witness to the Coronini family. The historical themes here—defense during the Ottoman incursions, local jurisdiction, and traces associated with the Coronini family—stand side by side.

Kojsko in Eastern Brda

Beyond individual buildings, Kojsko can also be understood in terms of its historical role: until the First World War, it was the cultural and economic center of eastern Brda. A monumental memorial to choirmaster Srečko Kumar stands in the center of Kojsko. The surviving “Na kalehih” railway tunnel is 300 meters long and single-track; it points to the strategic importance of the area during the First World War. Together, these examples show different sides of the area’s history: its cultural significance, a memorial to a choirmaster, and a surviving structure linked to its strategic past.

More Things to Explore in the Brda Region

The Brda region also offers more things to explore when planning a trip. Cycling routes pass through narrow, quiet villages in a landscape of vineyards, orchards, and olive groves. Professionally guided wine tastings and winery tours in Brda are available through the Open Homesteads list. These regional activities complement Kojsko’s focus on churches and local history.

Discover more destinations: Renče, Nova Gorica, Šempeter Pri Gorici, Prvačina, Branik, Sela Na Krasu, Vitovlje, Miren

Go to the main travel overview: Nova Gorica.