With a long-standing history dating back to 1428, Kacenštajn Castle features Gothic architectural remains, Baroque and Renaissance rebuilding. While you may across a few remains of Baroque gardens, a vegetable garden is now found here. Several prisoners of the Second World War were buried on the grounds of this castle. A hostage museum and psychiatric hospital are also located at the site. A great place to visit if you wish to get the chills.
Basilica of the Virgin Mary in the village of Brezje is also known as Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. Located off the Gorenjska highway, this basilica is a well-known pilgrimage site. This old church was declared a basilica in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. It features three naves, two aisles, multiple chapels, intricate artworks, a clock tower, valuable paintings and a lot more. The church’s facade was designed by the architect Ivan Vurnik. Located adjacent to the basilica is the Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, which was built in 1967. Beside the basilica also stands the stunning bronze sculpture of John Paul II.
Muzej jaslic or the Nativity Museum is a fascinating establishment. Nestled in the quaint town of Brezje, this museum boasts an extensive collection of cribs from all across the globe. A tour through the numerous rooms of the museum offers visitors a glimpse into the splendid world of cribs, their history and their many varied forms. The Passion, Pentecost and Resurrection cribs are among the most noteworthy and highlighted exhibits of the museum. While Slovenia boasts a bevy of ecclesiastical landmarks, this one-of-a-kind museum in Brezje stands out among all.
Housed within the Kropa Blacksmith Museum is the fascinating Vigenjc Vice. Offering a glimpse into the blacksmith heritage of the country, this ancient foundry was the site where blacksmiths hand forged hundreds of types of nails. A visit to the blackened interiors of the museum reveal a well-preserved display of 19th-century equipment. The interactive experience on offer allows you to try your hand at the art of forging nails. When in Kropa, one must plan a combined visit of the Kropa Blacksmith Museum and the Vigenjc Vice.
Schloss Keutschach, is a rather recent creation compared to its predecessor, which was larger and located not from the current structure. The newer castle was constructed in 1679, and this gabled roof building with slanting support beams on the side, looks pretty new due to the renovation efforts carried out in the 1970s.
Schloss Hollenburg proudly stands at Carinthia in Austria. The medieval castle rests on a rock overlooking the Drava valley, at an elevation of 561 meters (1840.5 feet). Built in 1100, it held strategic importance, controlling the Drava river crossing towards the Loibl Pass and the March of Carnolia. The castle belonged to the Hollenburg dynasty, and then the Pettau Styrian Lords, and is now the property of the Wittgenstein family. It was another victim of the Fruili earthquake in 1348 and was rebuilt in the later half of the 16th Century and boasts of the beautiful Renaissance architecture now.
The Renaissance building is now privately owned and is open to the public as a gallery.
The oldest works of art are the late Romanesque frescoes that adorn the long walls of the church and date from the second half of the 14th century. The winged altar is also worth seeing.
A one of a kind man-made lake, located in the Radovna Valley, Lake Kreda has an intriguing history of how it became one of the most popular lakes in the region. The area of the lake was extensively mined for chalk until 1985 and as a result a basin was created which led to the formation of this beautiful lake. Visitors here can relax by the lake side while indulging in the calm and clear weather, coupled with majestic views of the surrounding mountains.