Stari grad castle

Stari grad (“the Old Castle”), rising above the Lešnica Valley, was first mentioned in 1300, when it was built by the Patriarchs of Aquileia as their easternmost fortress. Over the centuries, the castle changed hands many times, with one of its most notable owners being Count Breckerfeld, who resided there between 1769 and 1806. In the 20th century, the castle suffered extensive damage during the war and is now owned by the Krka pharmaceutical company.

The surroundings of the Old Castle are a treasure trove of natural wonders. Beneath the castle flows the Lešnica stream, which carves out a stunning 700-meter-long and up to 35-meter-deep gorge along its course. Just before merging with the Krka River, it is joined by a smaller sinking stream that surprises visitors with the picturesque Kobila Waterfall. Not far from the castle lies the Becelet Cave, a karst formation of significant historical value.

The Beginnings of Viticulture in Dolenjska

Count Breckerfeld is also remembered as a pioneer of viticulture in the Dolenjska region. He advocated for harvesting grapes at the stage of technological ripeness specific to each variety—a revolutionary idea at the time. Traditionally, local winemakers planted red and white grape varieties on small plots and pressed them together at once, a practice that gave rise to the unique regional wine known as cviček. This tradition lives on today and remains deeply connected to the area’s history and the pride of local winegrowers.