Otočec Castle, Slovenia - EN
Visit a luxury 5* castle hotel on a river island with excellent cuisine!
Enjoy a stunning golf course and an elite spa centre nearby.
A truly prestigious break -- an ideal romantic getaway!
One of the most beautiful sights in Slovenia is definitely Otočec Castle. The only river castle in Slovenia, situated on an islet and dating back to the 13th century, has been reorganized into an exquisite 5-star hotel with unique ambience. Otočec Castle is one of the most appealing hotels, especially to numerous gourmets, newlyweds, and aesthetes; to sum up, all those who want to spend a couple of unforgettable days in a special atmosphere. As a member of the Relais & Châteaux, Otočec Castle is one the most prominent hotels in the Europe with an excellent cuisine that combines cultural gastronomy heritage of the region with the modern culinary perceptions.
Nature fans absolutely love the unspoilt nature in the Krka River valley. They can take a stroll in the castle park or enjoy a game or two on one of the most beautiful golf courses in Slovenia. The Otočec Golf Course has been named the best golf course in Slovenia for two years in a row. The course with 18 greens, stretching out on an area of more than 70 ha, is interesting for professionals as well as amateur golf players. And last but not least - Terme Krka's thermal pools and wellness centres at Šmarješke Toplice and Dolenjske Toplice are nearby to relax and indulge.
More info: castle-otocec.com
Slovenya’da Köy Hayatı - Village Life in Slovenia
Doğa ile içice olan Slovenya’nın köyleride bir başka, bugün köylere gidiyoruz ve tertemiz doğada kahvelerimizi yudumluyorken size de Slovenya’daki köy yaşamını anlatıyoruz.
Celje In Your Pocket - Castle Highlights
Arguably the grandest castle in all of Slovenia, while it isn't as completely restored as Ljubljana castle in the capital and doesn't possess the breathtaking alpine cliff top location of that in Bled, its sprawling grounds, eventful history, sweeping views over the city and surrounding countryside, and the generally imposing appearance of its partially restored fortress walls and towers are truly unique amongst any and all of its domestic rivals.
Originally built by the Heunburg family on the hills to the southeast of the bustling medieval market town of Celje in either the late 12th or early 13th centuries, the oldest parts of the castle are the fortified western walls and the central residential buildings which were surrounded by inner walls as well as a moat. Most of the original castle was destroyed in fighting between competing families not long after its initial construction, and eventually came into the possession of the Lords of Sanneck in 1333 - who became known as the Counts of Celje from 1341 onwards and were the most important medieval aristocrats in the territory of present-day Slovenia. Over the next hundred years the Counts rebuilt, expanded and greatly improved the castle and its grounds, however, when their rule ended with the murder of the last male heir in 1456, the property was bequeathed to the Habsburg monarchy in accordance with a previously signed inheritance agreement.
After the change in ownership, the castle managed to maintain its position as one of the most important fortresses in all of the eastern Alps for some two hundred years, but slowly began to fall into disrepair towards the latter half of the 16th century. It ceased to be a residence in 1795, and was purchased by a farmer eight years later, who began to use the site as a quarry. In 1846 the ruins were bought by the regional governor, and restoration work began which continues to the present day - making it easily the longest ongoing renovation project in Slovenia.
Today the castle is the most visited tourist site in Celje with over 70,000 visitors per year, and is also popular with locals, especially during the weekends and for weddings. The grounds are entered from a gate in the southernmost fortifications, where there's a fully-stocked branch of the Celje Tourist Infomation Office and a little further along a pleasant café. The central part of the site is dominated by the rebuilt Fredrick's Tower and an open air theatre, which is the main venue for the various performances that take place during the summer long Living History medieval festival. After crossing a wooden bridge over the one-time inner moat, you reach the upper part of the castle, where most of the buildings are located and where you'll find mesmerising views of the city below and rolling hills and valleys stretching to the alps in the distance. The entire grounds, including some dozen or more sites, are well marked with informative signs giving information and history in both Slovene and English.
Gostilna pri Kmetec on the hill opposite Celje castle is a good lunch option with filling Slovenian delicacies.
For more on Celje check out Celje In Your Pocket
Izlet u Sloveniju
Dvodnevni izlet u Sloveniju, pri čemu su obiđeni stari lovački grad u Mašunu, dvorac Snežnik, Postojnska jama, Predjamski grad- dvorac, Dvorac Rihemberk u Braniku. Boravili smo u prekrasnom kampu Pivka Jama.
Glazba je tema iz filma Posljednji Mohikanac.