The only remaining Cistercian monastery run by Trappist monks in the Balkans was established in 1869 by Father Franz Pfanner.
In 1857, Trappists built a brewery which is today known as Banja Luka Brewery. Until the end of the Second World War, they made a famous sort of cheese also called Trappist. Monks in this monastery were first in the area to use electricity and farm machinery some 120 years ago. They also established a local plant producing pasta and cloth factory and led workshops in which thousands of local poor children of Islamic, Serb Orthodox and Catholic faith learnt trades.
Between the two World Wars there were some 300 monks and about 4,000 people found jobs in the monastery and in its plants. At the moment, there are only three monks.
The celebration of the 135th anniversary of this Catholic monastery will end on Sunday, 15 August, which is the Catholic holiday called the Assumption.