The town of Rogatec
| Region | Savinja Statistical Region |
| Starting point | Rogatec town centre parking lot Strmol Mansion parking lot |
| Route length | 1,8 km (1.2 miles) |
| route duration | 1-2 h |
| Best time to visit | summer, spring, early autumn |
| Appropriate for | Baby Strollers , Baby Carriers , 1-3 years of age , 3-6 years of age , 6+ years of age , Dandy Horses, Bikes |
| Level of difficulty | Easy route |
Route Description
This was a short trip with the kids past the stables and on to one of the most beautiful open-air museums in Rogatec. You can start in the town center of Rogatec or drive a little further and leave your car at the foot of the Strmol Manor (also, Strmol Castle/Strmol Mansion). The manor is open to visitors.
You can walk about a kilometer (0.10 miles) on foot to the open-air museum. The original idea of preserving the birthplace of the poet Jože Šmit has grown over the years into the largest local open-air museum in Slovenia. In 1999, it was declared a cultural site of national importance. In 1997, it was nominated for a European Museum Award. The Celje Regional Office of the Institute Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia conceived this unique cultural, ethnological, regional, and historical monument of eastern Slovenia (Source: culture.si).
The museum activities combine and present the local history and ethnology through guided tours, craft workshops, and oenology experiences, which include:
- Baking bread
- Weaving baskets from cornhusks
- Hand weaving
- Forging horseshoes
- Stonemasonry
- Cooking and peeling willow twigs
- Making Palm Sunday bundles and dough baskets
Interesting Facts
The Strmol Castle complex is located to the northwest and above the town of Rogatec. It was first mentioned in 1436 when the Counts of Celje bequeathed a keep near Rogatec to Jakob of Strmol from the Upper Carniola statistical region (Source: rogatec.si website).
In the 16th century, another tower or an entire wing was added to the original keep, and the entire structure was fortified with a defence wall and turrets. The rebuilt structure had a T-shaped layout and lost its original role as a fortification. In the late 17th century, the turrets were pulled down and the defence walls replaced with a low stone fence. The height of the original keep was adjusted to the rest of the building. Next to the complex, a small two-storey building with an inner courtyard was constructed, which in the 19th and the early 20th century housed the district court, as is still evident from the prison that is preserved in the basement. The castle was surrounded with a beautiful English-style park featuring a walled-in spring. The park has not survived. After the Second World War, the castle was turned into apartments (Source: rogatec.si website).
Map
Take me to the starting point
Show route in Google mapsRent a car
Nearby Restaurants
Restavracija Bohor
Since 1935, in the very center of the town of Rogaška Slatina, this restaurant has been offering its guests a variety of culinary specialties. Due to the excellent location, impeccable service and delicious food, they are known everywhere. We actually ate here two days in a row J.
Kidričeva ulica 23
3250 Rogaška Slatina
03 581 41 00
Vita, Olja and Juna Recommend
The open-air museum also houses a shop with handmade local products. We were fascinated by various fabric toys, hair clips, teas, herbs and other boutique products. A toy kitten filled with fragrant lavender still lulls me to sleep every nigh.
