Grave () in neighboring Sajevce. The two sites were created around May 15, 1945, when Partisan forces captured about 4,000 Croatian soldiers and civilians at Dobruška Vas fleeing toward Austria. They were held on the left bank of the Krka River and killed in the forest over the course of a few days; eyewitnesses stated that the victims included children, women, and elderly persons. Sights A former monastic complex, which was burned by the Partisans in World War II, has been renovated and now houses the Božidar Jakac Gallery, an art gallery with a sculpture park and a permanent exhibition of works by Božidar Jakac. It is dominated by the Early Gothic abbey church built in 1234. The town's parish church is dedicated to Saint James and belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Novo Mesto. It is an originally 13th century Romanesque building that was largely rebuilt in the Baroque style in the 17th century. Kostanjevica Cave (), a popular tourist destination, is nearby. Notable people Notable people that were born or lived in Kostanjevica na Krki include: Ivan Belle (1867–1924), viticultural and orchard specialist Božo Borstnik (?–1974), journalist and translator Franc Bučar (1926–2000), veterinarian and technical writer Franc Fabinc (1881–1923), educational writer, journalist, and editor Jože Gorjup (1907–1932), painter, sculptor, and graphic artist Jože Jankovič (1901–1973), cultural activist Mirko Kuhelj (1904–1958), writer Jože Likar (1895–1986), writer and enologist France Lokar (1917–1994), poet Anton Makovic (1750–1803), surgeon, member of the national awakening movement and founder of formal education for midwives Franc Marešič (1750–1801), translator and religious writer Ivan Oražen (1869–1921), physician Lenart Pachenecker (?–1581), Cistercian monk and author of the first Catholic Slovenian book Josef Ressel (1793–1857), Bohemian-Austrian inventor of the screw propeller Franc Rueh (1887–1968), technical writer and electrical engineer Niko Sever (1889–?), education specialist Ilka Vašte (1891–1967), writer Avgust Žabkar (1854–1930), metalworking industrialist Radoslav Žargi (1918–1993), physician and specialist in infectious diseases References External links Kostanjevica na Krki on Geopedia Populated places in the Municipality of Kostanjevica na Krki Cities and towns in Lower Carniola