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Kolbacz

Kolbacz (Mera Vallis, Colbatz) – Zachodniopomorskie province, commune Stare Czarnowo, the Archdiocese of Szczecin and Kamien Pomorski. The Cistercian Abbey from the end of the 12th century till its secularisation in 1535. It originated as a daughter house of Esrum Zealand (Denemark). The monastery was founded by the castellan Warcislaw Swietoborzyc and it was the first Pomeranian monastery east of the Odra River. Its possessions consisted of vast territories, lakes (including Miedwie) and towns. From the 14th till 15th century it served as a ducal necropolis of the Gryfits. The Abbey in Kolbacz established three daughter ones: in 1186 in Oliwa, in 1286-1294 in Bierzwnik (Marienwalde) and in 1300 – 1350 in Mironice (Himmelstädt). There are only some parts of the complex that survived: a church, cellars and basement of the western part of the monastery (so called domus conversorum), abbot's house (the first half of the 14th century), and two farm buildings dated to the same time – a barn and sheepfold. The church had been built from the beginning of the 13th century (transept and a part of nave) till the beginning of the 14th century (surviving part) and rebuilt till mid – the 14th century (presbytery). At present it serves as the Roman-Catholic Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church. In 2008 the cistercian Gallery was estabilished in the post-Cistercian buildings and the Association “Granary of Arts” holds there its exhibitions, meetings and concerts.