The defensive walls, streets and squares of Slovenia's historic and other towns and cities tell various stories about our common past. However, not all the stories are beautiful, inspiring or romantic. In addition to progress and cultural and economic achievements, the past centuries also brought tragic events and the sad fates of individuals and communities that co-shaped the character of urban centres. Take a peek into the dark moments of history, discover the fates of the unfortunate who found themselves caught in the maelstrom of social change, political games and persecutions, and learn about the events that are recorded in town chronicles.
The dangers that threatened the inhabitants from outside were frequent, and the consequences of clashes were devastating. The oppressed and exploited also resisted the local authorities, even at the risk of losing everything. The cries of suffering prisoners echoed in the castle prisons.
Cries of despair and terror were heard far and wide after the Avars attacked the unsuspecting inhabitants of the Latin settlement in the area of Črnomelj and Bela Krajina in the early 6th century. You can learn about some of these dark moments in the Town Museum Collection in Črnomelj.
The war between the Venetian and Genoese Republics, in which Koper was also involved on the side of the Venetians, ended badly for the Slovenian coastal town. The Genoese fleet devastated the town, carrying away, among other things, the relics of the first Bishop of Koper and the patron saint of the town, St Nazarius, and, in addition to the war, the inhabitants were stricken by plague and famine.
When hardened Turkish soldiers first invaded Bela Krajina in 1408 and devastated the area around Metlika, great fear engulfed the Slovenian lands. You can find out why in the Bela Krajina Museum at Metlika Castle, where you can delve into the dark chapter of the Turkish invasions.
In the 16th century, two peasant revolts, the Pan-Slovenian and the Slovenian-Croatian revolts, arose in the face of ever worsening conditions, and both were brutally suppressed. At the Posavje Museum in Brežice, discover the story of the courage of the rebellious serfs who stood up to a much larger noble army and paid a terrible price for it.
The period of serfdom was not only a time of turmoil among the peasants of Posavje, but also among the peasants of the Gorizia area. The Tolmin Revolt took place in 1713 and met a miserable end with the torture and execution of the rebels. You can learn about some of this dark history in the Gorizia area at the Tolmin Museum.
Within the castle walls thrilling stories await you that will make you break into a cold sweat. When you visit the castle dungeons, you can almost hear the desperate cries of the prisoners, but even more horrifying are the various torture devices. Lost souls may roam the castle corridors. Are you brave enough to learn the chilling stories of the castle?
The stories and fates of the offenders who have been imprisoned in the dungeons, cells and solitary confinement of Ljubljana Castle are varied, but they all have one common denominator - they are all very grim. Do you dare to hear them? Join a guided tour through the dark, mysterious history of Ljubljana Castle.
Škofja Loka Castle has undergone many changes during its centuries-long existence. It has housed a court, a tax office, a juvenile correctional facility, and after World War II, a concentration camp for members of various military formations from Yugoslavia who were captured by the Partisans at the end of the war, and later a women's camp for carrying out community services. You can experience the eerie side of the castle on a special night-time experience.
In historic towns, we can find individuals who, for various reasons, have stood out from the crowd and, by their actions, willingly or unwillingly challenged the power of the authorities. Learn their stories, motives and fates.
The story of Veronika Deseniška, a simple noblewoman who won the heart of Frederick II of Celje and was accused of witchcraft as a result, is probably one of the most tragic stories of the family of the Counts of Celje and the Old Castle. The irony is that she was found innocent when she drowned in the trial against her. Her tragic story can be explored, among other things, in an exhibition at the castle.
In Laško, however, you can try to change history and bring the love story of Frederick and Veronika to a happy ending through a virtual experience.
Sometimes things are different from our first impression, and this was true of Marina Melhiorca, a seemingly decrepit and poor old woman, but in reality one of the most daring smugglers in the Idrija area. She smuggled stolen mercury under the pretext of selling Idrija lace. She was cunning and did not even succumb to torture in prison, but cleverly tricked her torturers and escaped. You can learn her story on guided tours at the Idrija Town Museum at Gewerkenegg Castle, and there is also a picture book Melhiorca the Smuggler dedicated to this amazing and indomitable woman.
Did you know that Kranj's medieval defence tower Pungert was also a prison in the past? The painter Leopold Layer and his brother, among others, were incarcerated there because they counterfeited money during the French occupation. After his brother's death, Layer vowed to paint the chapel of the Mother of God at Brezje if he succeeded in regaining his freedom. Today, Pungert is one of the centres of cultural activity, and Layer's house offers shelter to modern artists.
The story of Count Ivan Erasmus Tattenbach is one of excessive greed with a terrible ending. It was not enough for the Count to own several estates, the Old Konjice Castle and the Trebnik Manor; he wanted more. In his greed, he rebelled against the Habsburg Emperor Leopold I and paid for it dearly by being stripped of all his property and his noble title, and finally executed. Who knows, perhaps because of his terrible fate, the ghost of the greedy Count Tattenbach still haunts the ruins of the once mighty Konjice Castle.
Slovenian towns and cities bear the deep scars of World War I and World War II, when fighting and occupation brutally cut into the lives of innocent people. Discover the tragic stories of violence and suffering, but also of the indestructible human spirit that made freedom its highest value.
The Soča (Isonzo) River Front, which lasted 888 days, was one of the bloodiest during World War I. More than one million soldiers died in the fighting between the Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies. Traces of the wartime ravages can still be seen across the Soča (Isonzo) River Valley today and can be discovered, among other places, along the Walk of Peace. A museum has been set up in Kobarid as a reminder and a memorial, which shocks visitors with images of war and raises their awareness about the importance of peace.
The memorial park below the Ljubelj Pass, with its concrete remains of barracks, a memorial and a crematorium, is a silent reminder that a concentration camp, a "branch" of Mauthausen, stood near Tržič during the war. It housed some 1,800 prisoners from thirteen European countries, who built the Ljubelj Tunnel under impossible conditions and terror.
The Katzenstein Manor in Begunje na Gorenjskem was the site of the infamous Gestapo prisons where more than 11,000 people, mostly members of the Gorenjska resistance movement, were imprisoned during the war. The museum, now housed in preserved prison cells, reminds us of the inhuman suffering through the tragic records of those condemned to death.
The former Stari Pisker prison in Celje was a nightmare for collaborators of the resistance movement and nationally aware Slovenians, hundreds of whom were shot there without trial. A bright spot was the daring action of six young activists who freed some 300 prisoners from this prison in December 1944.
The building at 37 Prešernova Street in Ptuj may not seem like anything special at first glance, but under its roof prisons were located from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. The fate of the prisoners varied, but the darkest period was during World War II.
Kos Manor House, one of the former ironworks manor houses in the centre of Jesenice, experienced the darkest period of its 500-year existence during World War II, when the Gestapo, the German secret police, chose it as their prison, interrogating and torturing the inhabitants of Jesenice there.
Deep underground, in hidden corners of buildings, in dark forests where few people go, there lurk fascinating stories that would inspire many an author of spy and detective novels.
The Jama Hotel, located near Postojna Cave, lived a double life in the post-World War II era. In hidden rooms, which were only discovered when the hotel was renovated, secret agents eavesdropped on hotel guests. In these rooms you can learn about the astonishing technology used by the agents at the time.
For years, the Velenje Mine was the breadbasket for the inhabitants of the Šaleška Valley. Mining has left a lasting mark on the valley and its people. Due to intensive lignite coal mining, the ground gradually began to sink, the sunken places became covered with water and the mining villages were submerged. You can learn the story of the mine and the submerged villages on a unique guided experience.
During the Cold War, the threat of nuclear attack was always in the air, so the Yugoslav authorities built a special blockhouse deep in the forests of Kočevje, hidden 72 metres underground. The blockhouse had several rooms, its own water intake and two generators to produce electricity, which would allow survival there for up to 100 days in the event of an atomic strike.
Maribor's industry had many ups and downs in the past. During World War II, much of the industrial production, especially metals, was diverted to the war industry for the Nazi war effort. The Tezno Aircraft Engine Factory, which was relocated to the underground tunnels of the Tezno Zone in 1944 for fear of Allied bombing, was also active at that time.
Mighty castles and manor houses, ancient artefacts, the remains of former settlements, the streets of old town centres - each of them hides the stories of the people who once inhabited Slovenian towns.
Slovenian historic towns are a treasure trove of tales from medieval and modern times alike. They are hidden behind the walls of mighty castles and manors, carved into town fortifications and walls. If you listen carefully, your mind can wander off to the times of noblemen and serfs, and experience life in towns and castles.
MoreSlovenian historic towns are a treasure trove of tales from medieval and modern times alike. They are hidden behind the walls of mighty castles and manors, carved into town fortifications and walls. If you listen carefully, your mind can wander off to the times of noblemen and serfs, and experience life in towns and castles.
MoreEvery museum has its own secrets, its own treasures and its own "stars". These are the artefacts that attract the most attention because of their uniqueness. The museums of Slovenia's historic towns and cities also contain priceless treasures of historical and cultural heritage, among which are objects or curiosities that are particularly worth a stop.
MorePrehistoric settlements, Roman camps, medieval fortifications – they all testify to the fact that people have inhabited or at least crossed Slovenian territory since prehistoric times. Our archaeological collection also contains some exceptional finds, even on a global scale. Awaken your spirit of exploration and follow the traces of the past!
MoreIf you want to get to know the most charming corners of Slovenia's historic towns and cities, it is worth visiting the old urban centres. You'll be enchanted by grand medieval or burgher buildings that hold a variety of stories from the past and are today brought to life by housing cafés, boutique shops, galleries and other amenities.
MoreExplore how a great poet, a cosmopolitan female traveller, a famous composer and violinist, a Capuchin friar and many others have influenced the character of a particular town or city. Enter a time when urban centres were alive with the rhythm of the work of craftsmen, such as shoemakers and lace-makers, or miners and explorers of the natural splendours of the urban hinterland.
MoreThere are many ways to discover the history and culture of towns and cities. You can visit museums and galleries, majestic castles and manor houses, explore the mysteries of monasteries and churches, or embark on a time-travelling journey through gamified and virtual experiences.
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Discover interesting stories from Slovenia with the help of virtual reality.
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Slovenia is full of castles, manors, fortresses, and fortification systems.
Museums and galleries in Slovenia – a treasure trove of art from prehistoric times until today.
From industry to culture – former factories and industrial areas that are today cultural centres, museums and galleries.
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