Parish Church of the name of Marija

The Parish Church of the name of Marija is the central cultural and religious monument of Ruše and one of the most beautiful Baroque churches in Slovenia. It was built by the Benedictines of St. Paul’s Abbey in 1387 on the site of the original chapel from 905, which had become too small due to the increasingly popular pilgrimage route. The church has been preserved to this day as a testament to artistic development through various periods (from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque). Traces of the Gothic style can still be seen on its exterior, while upon crossing the threshold, the interior shines in full Baroque splendor. After being destroyed by the Turks in 1532, the church was renovated. At the end of the 17th century, four chapels were added, and in the early 18th century, the interior was completely transformed in the Baroque style. It has remained so to this day and represents a comprehensive monument of Slovenian Baroque.