Otočec Old Castle

Route Description

The village of Otočec has beautiful surroundings that are perfect for weddings. However, this trip describes a lesser-known, yet admirable neighbor, the Otočec Old Castle (Stari grad Otočec). The hike to this location can be extended with a climb onto the Trška gora Hill.

The Otočec Old Castle is located in the village of Zagrad. It stands above the steep gorge of the Lešnica Stream between the wine-growing areas of Grčevje and Trška gora. It has a varied historical past and many stories have been written about it.

The old castle was first mentioned in history archives in 1300, when the Counts of Saxe-Altenburg owned it. In the middle of the 19th century, the Old Castle was inherited by the Counts Margheri di Commandona, who donated it in the 20th century to the convent of the Merciful Brothers in Kandija, Novo mesto. The monks wanted to arrange an almshouse in it, but they could not realize their plans because partisans burnt it down at the end of WWII. After the war, the Old Castle became the property of the Krka pharmaceutical factory in Novo mesto and is gradually being renovated. It is not possible to enter the courtyard or the castle.

If you drive in the Ljubljana-Novo mesto direction, turn off the motorway at the “Novo mesto-vzhod” exit and continue driving towards Otočec. Continue in the direction of the village of Lešnica. When you arrive at Otočec, drive to the end of the village and park in the parking lot next to the cemetery.