2012Gastronomy - Trappist Cheese - First Day Cover

Abbot Franz Wendelin Pfanner (1825. - 1909), along with his six co-brothers, began the construction of Trappist monastery "Marija Zvijezda“ (Maria Stern) in Banja Luka in 1869. The monastery is, among other things, known for its centennial tradition of producing the delicious cheese "Trappist“ originating from the French monastery Port-du-Salut.
The beginning of cheese production in "Marija Zvijezda“ started in 1872, in a small cheese factory which was built by fr. Franz. Production of "real“ Trappist cheese began in 1882 with the arrival of fr. Ignatius of the French monastery of Port-du-Salut to Banja Luka. The cheese factory was completely destroyed in the II World War and with the arrival of Communists to power in 1946, the entire estate with all the inventory was seized form Trappist monastery. Today in monastery "Marija Zvijezda“ live the only remaining Trappists in the Balkan, siblings, fr. Zvonko and fr. Tomislav Topic. Father Zvonko is the head of monastery and the church dedicated to Virgin Mary and father Tomislav is the parish and the only person who knows the secret of cheese production. It was conveyed to him by French monks of the Trappist monastery Mont des Cats, where he stayed during his training. Father Tomislav makes, with his hands, 60 cheeses daily in cheese factory "Livac“ (Aleksandrovac) near Banja Luka. Agricultural community "Livac“ was established in 2003 on the initiative of Bishop Franjo Komarica and in mid-2008 the production of Trappist "Marija Zvijezda“ was re-launched.