The Three Castles Trail

The Otočec Castle

The Otočec Castle, a cultural monument whose history remains somewhat unclear, was first mentioned in the 13th century when it was inhabited by the vassals of the Freising bishops, the Knights of Otočec. From the 15th century onwards, the castle changed hands several times. Between 1854 and the end of World War II, when it was occupied by the Italians, the castle was owned by the Margheri de Commandona family. Their extensive family archive disappeared in 1942 when partisans burned the castle, leaving it in ruins. Today, the castle, restored in Renaissance and Gothic styles, is a luxurious five-star hotel. Its Castle Park in the vicinity offers a stroll among centuries-old trees, where you will very likely spot some swan families as well.

Legend has it that the castle was originally built by the water on the right side of the Krka River. Later, one of the lords had part of the land excavated so that the castle would be safer from enemies, surrounded by  water.

Stari grad

The name Stari Grad (“the Old Castle”) was first mentioned in 1300, built by the Patriarchs of Aquileia as their easternmost stronghold. It has a rich history of changing ownership, one of the most notable owners being Count Breckerfeld (1769–1806). The castle was burned down during the war and later came under the ownership of the Krka factory in Novo Mesto.

Breckerfeld is also significant for advocating for the harvest of grapes at the peak of their technological ripeness. In those days, small winegrowers in the region of Dolenjska aimed to produce as much wine as possible on their small plots, so they planted red and white grape varieties together and pressed both sorts together, which resulted in the creation of the famous local Cviček wine.

The Hmeljnik Castle

The Hmeljnik Castle, built in the 12th century and first mentioned in written sources in 1217, is one of the oldest castles in Slovenia. Its name is believed to derive from the lush hops growing in the area. The castle has a rich history of changing ownership. In the distant past, it was managed by the knights of Hmeljnik, and in the 15th century it came into the hands of the Counts of Črnomelj. From 1876 until the end of World War II, it was governed by the Wamboldt couple, who were homeopaths treating both people and pigs. During World War II, the castle was completely destroyed; what was not burned by the Slovenian partisans had been looted by the locals before. The ruins were mined in 1958, and today the castle, which holds the status of a cultural monument of national significance, is in need of renovation.

A document dating to 1223 mentions two terms for the castle: Hopfenbach and inferior Hopfenbach. Some believe there were two castles with the same name, as also reported by Valvasor.