Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 10:00-18:00
The heritage of Fr. Erich von Brandis is of great importance for Travnik and for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The spirit of this great man unites the love for God, man, science and nature. He saw the beauty of God's creation in the natural things he collected and studied. He was born in Betnava near Maribor, surrounded by hills, forests, and water. In his childhood his eyes absorbed this beauty, but similar landscapes won his heart over in the Lašva river valley in Travnik, later on the Vlašić mountain, in Vilenica, and so on. Erich Brandis is the most beautiful link between these two lands, both small, but rich in spirit and with beautiful landscapes.
Erich von Brandis was born in Betnava near Maribor on April 30, 1834. The ancient noble family Brandis (formerly Brandeiss) originates from Switzerland. The Tyrolean lineage, to which our Fr. Brandis belonged, was honored with the title count in 1654. Since ancient times, the Brandis have distinguished themselves as conscientious Catholics. Faith and piety were their ancestral heritage, and many members, especially Jesuit students, adopted the motto of St. Ignatius of Loyola: "Omnia ad maiorem Dei gloriam".
His father's castle Betnava or Schloss Windenau, where Brandis was born and grew up, is surrounded by a park decorated in the English country style. He played in this park with his brother and became interested in natural history at an early age.
Brandis was 21 years old when he graduated from law school. After that, to the surprise of those close to him, he decides to join the Society of Jesus. He had shown no interest in a priestly vocation until that moment, and his cheerful and playful spirit also could not be associated to this aspiration.
The schooling of Erich von Brandis took a long time, which isn't that unusual for a Jesuit. He spent 9 years at university and then he was invited to Kaloč in Hungary. At that time his holy work began, first in Hungary, then in Zagreb and finally in Travnik.
