Štanjel
| Region | Coastal - Karst Statistical Region |
| Starting point | Marked parking lot |
| Route length | 3 km (1.86 miles) |
| route duration | 1-2 h |
| Best time to visit | All year |
| 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
Visit Štanjel, the photogenic karst village and make many unforgettable memories with your family.
Štanjel is one of the oldest settlements in the Karst Region, known for its old village centre. It was named after the patron saint of the church, Saint Daniel. Due to its strategic location, the Turn Hill has been inhabited since prehistoric times and fortified in antiquity. Historical records first mention the place in 1402. The characteristic defensive wall was built in the 15th century, and it protected the inhabitants during the Turkish invasions. The village reached its peak of development in the 16th and 17th centuries (when most of the buildings were erected).
In the period between the two world wars, the architect and then mayor Maks Fabiani left his mark on Štanjel. With some well-considered architectural interventions, he restored the former central role of the settlement and substantially contributed to the redesigning of the space, as seen today. He established a municipal centre in the castle, including the mayor’s office, a school, a kindergarten, a cinema, a health station and some other public spaces. He redesigned and renovated the entrance tower, along with the staircase, as well as the main square and the platform between the castle and the church. He also tackled one of the main problems of karst settlements - water supply. We made a circular trip around Štanjel to all its sights and made a short stop at a castle yard cafe.
Interesting Facts
During the Second World War, Štanjel was partially burned and the castle severely damaged. The revitalization of the core and the restoration of the castle began in the 1960s and continues to this day. After the Second World War, a newer part of the settlement developed on the plain below the old center.
Map
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Nearby Restaurants
Bistro Grad Štanjel
The bistro is located in the very core of the magical medieval castle. When creating their dishes the staff always aims at using homemade, genuine and region specific flavors, creating a home-like feeling as if local grandmas prepared the food. They are here to pamper you for breakfast, brunch, lunch, as well as dinner (Source: gradstanjel.si website). The place hosts beautiful weddings. The inn has a café in the castle courtyard.
Štanjel 1a,
6222 Štanjel
+386 (0)5 731 00 70
+386 (0)41 447 854
Vita, Olja and Juna Recommend
Spend a few days in the embrace of the Karst region and see how beautiful this part of Slovenia is.
Mother Nature has shaped the Karst over time and gave it many natural sights that the local people still preserve and nurture every day.
The landscape has many grooves, ravines, “stone” mushrooms ... All these larger and smaller shapes of the karst surface are made of limestone. Mother Nature has shaped it with its phenomena such as rain, wind, sun, etc.
The landscape is undulating due to valleys, karst depressions and sinkholes, which give the landscape its diversity and variety. The underground is also varied, which is reflected in many karst caves that were formed by sinking water. The caves are rich in various sigma formations, and they also contain rock forms and sediments (especially cave clay).
We can say that the diversity of the karst landscape is also reflected in the people who have lived here for centuries. They are friendly, warm and hospitable. At the same time, they have amassed their piece of land here through the history of time.
Legend about Karst.
