KL L MK N I F D F StražaF D INMKL r TTT aT v eT l g u i dT e Straža Travel guide Contents
Straža through the Years 4 Krka, the Belle of Dolenjska 8 Vineyards, Cviček, Vineyard Cottages 11 Religious Heritage 13 Footpaths around Straška Gora, Velika Prepadna Cave, Peter Take-Off Site ... 16 And ... 22 Events 28 Inns, Lodging Houses, Tourism in Vineyard Cottages 32 About the Straža Municipality 34
Welcome to Straža 2nd edition, 1st print Text: Marjan Žiberna, Andreja Kren Photographs: Dušan Šetina, Slavko Strmec, Anica Nose, Versatilis Cartography: GURS, data acquisition: Dušan Šetina Design and print: ART 32 d.o.o, Špes, grafični studio, Novo Mesto Cover design: Artisan Overview of the contents: Maja Medic Print run: 1.000 copies Straža, January 2016 2 Invitation to Straža Even though Straža is a small municipality with a surface area of just over two dozen square kilometres and a few thousand inhabitants, that does not mean that it has nothing to offer. Quite the opposite! For one thing, the Krka River, which is also aptly called the ‘Belle of Dolenjska’, runs through this area in the very heart of Dolenjska. However, the Krka is not just lovely to look at, you can go rowing or fishing on it or travel down the river in a raft. Although the numerous mill wheels that used to be turned by the river have long since stopped turning, you can still see these vestiges of the past in Vavta Vas and a few other locations in the municipality. Just a stone’s throw above the green river rises Straška Gora. Just looking at it, especially in good weather, will warm the cockles of your heart. The sunny base of the Straška Gora hill is dotted with vineyards, vineyard cottages typical of the Dolenjska region and, more recently, holiday cottages that blend in nicely with the area. To the delight of conscientious wine growers, the sun on these slopes is given free rein to stroke the wine grapes with its rays. Good wines are made in this region, the most typical being Cviček. A well-known Slovenian poet, who was born in Dolenjska, once described it as “it is not communion wine, but to me it tastes divine”. Cviček is still “divine” and has for some time now also been used as “communion wine”; it is protected with the mark of a recognized traditional denomination (PTP) and is becoming more and more highly esteemed. Paying a visit to one of the vineyard cottages is a lovely experience – as much for the wine as for the people. After all, the people of Dolenjska have always been known to be amiable, talkative and big-hearted. Whether you wish to go on an invigorating hike or merely take a short stroll in the beautiful natural surroundings, you will have plenty of footpaths to choose from when visiting Straška Gora. These will lead you past the Velika Prepadna Cave and a plague column serving as a reminder of the Black Death – bubonic plague. There are other things here that bear witness to the times gone by. It was in this area near Straža that the only known lowland hill fort in Slovenia is located. The fact they are so rare is not surprising since these fortified settlements built in the 1st millennium BC were ordinarily located on hill tops or other elevated areas. An important Roman road is likely to have passed through this area. There are five churches in the vicinity of Straža. You can join the paragliders on Straška Gora flying in tandem. There is a recreational airfield near Prečna, where visitors can take off and see the area from a bird’s eye view. There are numerous events unfolding throughout the year in Straža starting with the traditional “Autumn in Straža”. There are many other things to be found in this small yet interesting area. So, there are plenty of reasons to pay Straža a visit. Hopefully, this guide will help you discover and enjoy them! Marjan Žiberna, author 3 Straža Travel guide
Archaeological finds point to the fact that the area was settled as ear- ly as the Palaeolithic (Early Stone Age). The most important find is a 5,000 year-old stone axe. It is a well preserved tool with rounded ends and a hole for the wooden handle that was used by the people of that period. The axe is currently part of the permanent archaeological exhibition in the Novo Mesto Museum. Straža through the Years through the Straža
Numerous castles, mansions and mills used to stand along the Krka River.
People used to live here as early as the 1st millennium BC, more spe- cifically in the Early Iron Age (8th - 4th century BC). Some exquisite artefacts from this period have been preserved in Dolenjska; therefore, this period is sometimes referred to as the ‘Flourishing Hallstatt Pe- riod of Dolenjska’ (Hallstatt refers to the Early Iron Age in Europe). A special historical landmark from this period was preserved in this very area – the remains of the only known prehistoric lowland hill fort in Slovenia. The inhabitants of that time, whose exact ancestry is not well known, typically built their hill forts on elevated sites. The elevated position afforded the inhabitants (allegedly they belonged to one of the Illyrian tribes) a good view of the surrounding area. So they could successfully defend their fortified settlements (hill forts) against attackers. According to research, lowland hill forts were extremely rare and Straža is the only location in Slovenia where such a settlement has been found; Gradišče (hill fort) is also the name of the current village that was built in the place of the old fort. During this period, people were adept at making good use of the iron ore deposits found in the 4 Straška Gora, which only has vineyards now, probably had a road running across it in Roman times. area, and the remains of 100 iron ore smelting furnaces have been pre- served; what has also been preserved are the graves where the locals buried their dead. They believed that death was nothing more than a passage to the afterlife, and that the dead would continue to lead the same lives as before. That is why they were buried with their most cher- ished possessions; consequently the Hallstatt graves are a real treasure trove for archaeologists. The dozencremation graves from the 2nd and 3rd century AD which were found in the area clearly indicate that the area was settled in antiq- uity. The Romans left their mark here by starting to penetrate eastwards in 33 BC and to dominate the two Celtic tribes Latobici and Taurisci, who inhabited the area. Therefore, it is not very surprising that Roman coins from this period were found here. The mighty empire that was renowned for excellent road links was probably the one that also built the road leading down the middle of Straška Gora. The Roman influence can also be discerned from one of the footpaths running across Straška Gora called the “Roman Path”. Later, in the Early Middle Ages, the area was settled by Slavs. The exact time of their arrival cannot be determined, but can be placed between the 6th and 9th century. That is also the period when the name of the village Sela pri Straži first appeared. The actual town of Straža, which is the centre of the modern Straža municipality, was first mentioned
5 Straža Travel guide in documents dating to 1250. The townspeople used to walk up to the slopes of Straška Gora to guard their vineyards from birds, bears and any other potential good-for-nothings and that is how the settlement got the name Straža (‘guard’). The Zalog (Breitenau) Castle was first acknowledged in writing in 1280, soon after Straža was first mentioned. It stood on the left bank
Following 1900, the wine growing industry was badly affected by phylloxera and severe frost, but it survived. of the Krka River, approximately three kilometres east of the centre of Straža as it stands today. Over the centuries, it changed many owners – the Praunsbergs, Scharfs, Lichtenbergs, Taubenhauers... Unfortunately, it was burned down during the Second World War and the ruins were removed. Another local feature that was built early on at the foot of Straška Gora was the Church of St Thomas, which still stands in the same location. It shows the remains of a Romanesque nave and fragments of early- Gothic frescos, which are thought to have originated in the 14th cen- tury. Later, four more churches were erected in the wider area of Straža. In the 19th century, Straža and Vavta Vas, two settlements lying on op- posite banks of the Krka River, started becoming more modernized and, to certain extent, industrialized. The Auerspergs, who were at the time the most powerful noble family in Slovenia, began to intensively exploit the wood resources of the nearby Kočevje forests. In 1878, a school was 6 built in Vavta Vas and a new railway link was built between Novo Mesto and Straža in 1894. A steam-powered sawmill, intended for cutting logs into lum- ber, started to operate successfully in Straža at that time. Between 1900-1901, the wine growing industry, which has had a very long tradition in these parts, was badly affect- ed by phylloxera and by severe frost a year later, yet the industry perse- vered. There are five churches in the Straža area; some The Straža and Vavta of them have stood here for a very long time. Vas communities got mains power in June of 1940, just before the Second World War started in Yugoslavia. After the war, the area fell under the administrative authority of the Novo Mesto municipality and in 2007 Straža became an independent municipality, which is in a state of accelerated development.
View the Archaeological and Ethnological Heritage The Museum of Dolenjska, Novo Mesto Muzejska ulica 7 8000 Novo mesto tel: 07/373-11-30 [email protected] www.dolmuzej.com
Tourist information The Straža Municipality Ulica talcev 9 8351 Straža tel: 07/38 48 550 [email protected] www.obcina-straza.si
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The Krka River, which flows through the municipality, gives the coun- tryside a special charm. The two main communities – Straža and Vavta Vas – lie on either bank of the river and are connected by a bridge. Just a few kilometres before the town begins the river becomes fairly set- tled providing an excellent opportunity for rowing for those who prefer calmer waters. If you want to go rafting down the rapids in the more lively upper reaches of the river you can rent a raft in Straža. The best time for rafting here is in spring or early summer when the water levels are most suitable. In summer, it is possible to take kayaking lessons, especially intended for primary school pupils. For fishing enthusiasts, the Krka River is richly stocked with huchen, grayling, nase, etc. With a length of 94 km, it is the second longest river flowing in its en- tirety in Slovenia, following the Savinja. The river rises in Krka, a village near Ivačna Gorica, and discharges into Sava near Brežice. The town of Kostanjevica na Krki, which is found along the lower reaches of the river, is the only Slovenian community that is surrounded by water on all sides and the Otočec Castle is the only Slovenian island castle. Krka, the Belle of Dolenjska Krka, During the time of the Romans, an important route passed through the area and later many castles and mansions were built here. According to the famous polymath Janez Vajkard Valvasor (1641-1693), there were around 65 in his time. That is part of the reason why the valley along the upper reaches of the Krka River was known as the Valley of Castles. Unfortunately, very little remains now of the once rich architecture.
The Krka, which is very lively further upstream, slows down markedly just before reaching Straža.
8 Just one of the once numerous mills driven by the Krka River still remains standing in Vavta Vas.
In the past, the river, especially in its upper reaches, used to turn nu- merous watermill and sawmill wheels. The millers in these parts used to be highly sought-after as best men at weddings or godfathers at christenings and confirmations because they would bring white bread to the ceremony, which was a rare treat for many of the common peo- ple. Only a handful of the once numerous watermills survives to the present day; three of them are still standing in the Straža area – in Vavta Vas, Rumanja Vas and Loke. Hopefully, they will not be left to the mercy of the ravages of time.
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You can get a more adrenaline-fuelled ride in the upper reaches of the river and a more laid-back ride further downstream.
Further upstream, the Rafting on the Krka Krka River is a very The Gimpex Rafting Club lively river that has in Stara cesta 1 some places cut deep 8351 Straža [email protected] ravines into the land- www.rafting-gimpex.si scape.
Fishing permits The upper reaches Gostilna Pod Smrekco of the river are very Potok 1 8351 Straža picturesque with at- tel: 07/384-75-88 tractive calc-tufa falls – step-like waterfalls. The Krka – the name is The Novo Mesto Fishing Club The Straža-Dolenjske Toplice Subcommittee said to originate from www.rdnovomesto.si the Greek word Kor- koras – is the only Slo- venian river that de- posits this soft porous rock onto its riverbed.
10 The gentle vine-dotted hillsides – Straška Gora, Stara Gora and Nova Gora – spread above the left bank of the Krka River over the lower part of Straška Gora (the locals call it Straški Hrib - the Straža Hill). In the middle, stand old vineyard cottages and more recently and interest- ingly built holiday cottages. It is fun to be here at any time of year, especially in autumn when it is time to harvest the grapes. Another local beauty spot worth paying a visit to is Ljuben, which is situated a couple of kilometres from the right bank of the river. The viticulture in the area, which has a very long tradition, went through a particularly hard time about a century ago. In 1900 it was almost wiped out by a phylloxera epidemic followed by severe frost a year later. Nevertheless, the wine-growing industry eventually re- covered and former native varieties began largely to be replaced with American vines (resistant rootstock). Different vines are now cultivat- ed by the wine growers (there are about 150 who are joined together in the local viticultural society) with an emphasis on vines cultivated for the increasingly popular Cviček. The owners of vineyard cottages have started participating in the vineyard cottage tourism scheme which enables visitors to rent vineyard cottages, be treated to local delicacies, purchase home-made wine, etc. Cviček, which is produced in the Dolenjska wine-growing district, is a red wine. It is synonymous with Dolenjska and is regarded as a Slovenian viticultural speciality. It is traditionally made from several grape varieties. The dominant variety is the Žametna Črnina, which
is combined with the Modra Frankinja (Blue Franconian) and certain Cottages Vineyard Cviček, Vineyards,
The vine thrives at the foot of the sunny side of Straška Gora.
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Žametna Črnina – the basis for the Paying a visit to one of the vineyard production of Cviček. cottages is a lovely experience. white grape varieties (mostly Kraljevina). It is the only wine apart from Chianti from Tuscany that is made from a blend of red and white grape varieties. Other typical features include a low alcohol content (up to 10%) and a pleasant acidity and ‘smooth’ taste. It is light red with a slight ruby tinge and a fresh fruity aroma reminiscent of raspberry, cherry and red currants. This refreshing and drinkable wine is said to be “without great determination and without concealed faults”. In the past, Cviček was considered an inferior, sour-tasting wine. Peo- ple used to refer to it with pejorative terms such as “cuckovec” (plonk) or “žvižgovec” (whistler). Janez Trdina had this to say about the wine: “... this Cviček was the sort of wine that even the oldest among us could not recall ever tasting such sour plonk”; on the contrary Tone Pavček, a native of Dolenjska, seemed quite fond of it: “... it is not communion wine, but to me it tastes divine ...”. But that is all in the past as far as Cviček is concerned. Its reputation has greatly improved over the last few years thanks to enormous efforts The Straža Viticultural Society on the part of wine Ulica talcev 7 growers. It has been le- 8351 Straža [email protected] gally protected with the www.dvs.si PTP mark (recognized traditional denomina- tion) since 2001 and is becoming, rightly so, more and more praised.
12 There are five churches in the Straža Municipality. The Church of St- Ja cob in Vavta Vas is the parish church and has two filial churches – the Church of St Thomas in Straža and the Church of Our Lady of Consola- tion in Drganja Sela. The Church of our Lady of the Assumption in the part of Straža that used to be known as Dolenja Straža and the Church of St Martin are both filial churches belonging to the Prečna parish church, which is part of the Novo Mesto Municipality. The current baroqueChurch of St Jacob in Vavta Vas, built in the shape of a cross, was erected sometime between the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The church stands on the spot where its smaller predecessor Religious Heritage used to stand; the first small church is said to have existed in Vavta Vas as early as 1462 and in 1501 it became the filial church of the large ancient parish of Šmihel pri Novem Mestu. The church, which has been thoroughly renovated re- cently, features stations of the cross from 1862 painted by the Italian artist David Bertold. The paintings of the main al- tar and both side-altars as well as both side-cha- pels were mainly created by the esteemed painter Franz Kurz zum Thurn The interior of the Church of St Jacob; its predecessor und Goldenstein (1807- is said to have stood here as early as the 15th century. 1878). The Church of St Thomas, which lies on top of a hillock (which used to be Gorenja Straža), is only modest on the outside. Its interior, how- ever, hides very old remains of a Romanesque church that began to be uncovered during renovations in 1987. That is when they uncovered the semicircular Romanesque apse, which for the most part forms the chan- cel arch of the modern church. The other remains of the Romanesque church are the eastern corners of the nave and the exterior arch wall. They discovered fragments of two old paintings on the chancel arch sug- gesting that they were part of the procession painted on the apse walls.
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The fragments of old paintings among other things are a testament to the early construction of the Church of St Thomas. The gravestone in front of the presbytery bears the inscription of the year 1681, but there are other findings suggesting that the church, which was first mentioned in written records as late as the middle of the 19th cen- tury, is actually much older. There appears to have been a church standing here as early as the middle of the 14th century. The church also contains three “golden altars” from the 17th or 18th century and stations of the cross from the first half of the 19th century, but restored in 1990. The Church of Our Lady of Consolation in Drganja Sela, whose inte- rior was fully renovated in 2009, was first constructed in the first half of the 18th century. Its nave initially had a flat ceiling, which was later transformed into the baroque style. The main altar, which was probably built in the first half of the 18th century like the side-altars, was renovat- ed in 1819. The Church of our Lady of the Assump- tion in the part of Straža that used to be known as Dolenja Straža was completed in 1690. Its interior paintings were entirely commissioned In the Church of our Lady of the Assumption in Straža. by one of the members
14 of the royal Brenner family, who owned the nearby castle Luknja. The main altar depicting St Florian was built in the 17th century while the equipment in the church is mostly from the 18th century. The church used to attract large numbers of pilgrims who visited the church on the feast day of the Assumption of Mary. It enjoys the status of a cultural monument transcending local boundaries as a monument of baroque art. The exact date when theChurch of St Martin in Zalog was constructed is not known, but writ- ten records date back to 1581. It stands in the spot where a chapel is said to have once stood. The altar dates back to the 17th century. It is decorated with statues; the two most interesting ones depict St George and the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne. The church also contains the gravestone of the De Portico family and the tomb of the Fichtenau family, who owned the nearby Breitenau castle, which has not been pre- served. The Church St Martin is at least 400 years old.
Viewing of the church can be arranged here: Župna kancelarija (Parish Office) Vavta vas Vavta vas 48 8351 Straža tel: 07/308-31-74 www.vavta-vas.si
Župna kancelarija (Parish Office) Prečna Prečna 10 8000 Novo mesto tel: 07/334-85-00 www.zupnijaprecna.net
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There are three circular hiking trails leading around Straška Gora: Gozdarska (Forestry), Rimska (Roman) and Vinogradniška (Viticultural). The starting and finishing point of all three interlinked and complimen- tary trails is the Straža bus station (elevation: 175 m). If you come to Straža by car, you can park next to the railway station, which is only a few hundred meters from the bus station. The trails are picturesque, not very long, and run mostly across undemanding terrain. When taking the trail during a dry spell, it is necessary to take into account that there is an increased fire hazard on the southern slopes of Straška Gora during dry weather conditions. You are quite likely to run into wild animals inhabit- ing the area. It is important not to disturb the animals unnecessarily and respect their natural habitat while hiking in the area. The Gozdarska Pot is an easy trail signposted and marked with white and green circles painted on trees. The trail leads pastthe Church of St Thomas, where fragments of frescos from the 14th century have been uncovered, and continues past vineyards and onwards along slightly more steep forest paths to the Velika Prepadna Cave. It takes about one hour to get here on foot. The Velika Prepadna is a dripstone karst cave, which can be visited twice a year (on the 1st May and during the time of the Straška Jesen (Autumn in Straža) festival); the rest of the time, the cave is closed to the public in order to protect the wildlife inhabiting the cave (especially beetles and bats).
The trail then leads around the northern side of Srebotnik, which is the highest point of the Straška Gora with an elevation of 593 m. Srebotnik got its name from the Slovene word for clematis, whose climbing vines can be seen covering the trees (mainly beech trees) in many parts of the for- est. The trail continues along an unpaved forest road to the Peter take- off site. It takes about 40 minutes to walk from the Velika Prepadna
Footpaths Around Straška Gora, the Velika Prepadna Cave, the Peter take off site take the Peter Cave, Prepadna Velika Gora, the Straška Around Footpaths Cave to the take-off site. The footpaths Around Straška Gora are well The whole trail is just un- marked. der five kilometres long.
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The Peter take-off site is a lovely clearing in the middle of a forest at an altitude of 464 m, which is mostly used by the paragliders from the Kanja Club from Dolenjske Toplice. The club also offerstandem paragliding. In good weather, this location offers an attractive view The Velika Prepadna Cave, a karst cave with of the surrounding area. wonderful stalactite formations. Next to the clearing is a canopy offering shelter for about 20 people, a BBQ pit and benches seating about 70 people. This spot is ideal forpicnics and gatherings. There are a variety of trails leading back to the starting point in Straža. You can continue along the Vinogradniška Pot trail that leads through vineyards and ends in Straža or go back on the same trail, but only part of the way then turn right onto the Rimska Pot trail. It runs along the south-eastern part of Straška Gora and it was named according to the legend that a Roman road used to pass through the area. According to the experts, this is entirely possible, but it has not been confirmed yet. The trail is passable throughout the year as snow tends to melt quickly because of the trail’s exposure to the sun. The Rimska Pot is a shorter, yet more difficult version of the trail from Straža to the Peter take-off site:
You can also see Straža and the surrounding area by taking a tandem paragliding flight.
20 the 3.6 km ascent with a 300 m change in altitude takes about an hour at a moderate pace. It is signposted and marked with white-red blazes on trees in the shape of a parachute. The Vinogradniška Pot is a 3.4 km long signpost- ed trail running mainly along paved roads. It is the shortest possible route between Straža and the Peter take-off site. Both Vinogradniška and Rimska Pot trails have markings leading to the nearby plague column. It was erected in the 17th century as a sign of gratitude and The plague column in Straška Gora. to commemorate the epidemic that had been decimating the European population for centuries and did not spare this region either. The 8.6-kilometre Straža-Frata Forest Trail (Gozdarska Pot) also starts in Straža. The starting portion runs along the Gozdarska Pot trail leading past the Church of St Thomas and the Velika Prepadna Cave, then con- tinues along forest tracks, which were used in the past by foresters and forest owners while working. The trail runs partly along the Trdinova Pot trail and the E7 European long distance path. It leads past many natural attractions and ends at Dom Frata (hiking hut) near the village of Dolnji Ajdovec in the Žužemberk Municipality.
Tandem flights Klub za prosto letenje Kanja Gorenje gradišče 13 8350 Dolenjske Toplice [email protected] www.kpl-kanja.si
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On the left bank of the Krka River, between Straža and Prečna stands the Straža Recreational Airfield with one of the largest runways in Slovenia. It is mainly used for motor gliders and sailplanes taking off and landing and for the training of pilots, parachute jumpers, aeromod- ellers... One of the interesting activities offered to visitors are scenic
And ... flights around the surrounding area, for example over the Krka Valley. Thescenic flights are offered by Aeroklub Novo Mesto, which is based in the area. Another available feature is the tandem parachute jump.
The Straža airfield offers its visitors a chance to go on a scenic flight.
There is an inn right next to the airfield and slightly further on you will findMarof , the old manor house belonging to the almost completely ruined castle Luknja. The castle ruins are still visible above the nearby spring Luknja, where the Temenica River (or Prečna) gushes out of the ground. The small river that represents the dividing line be- tween the municipali- ties Novo Mesto and Straža discharges into Marof, the old manor house belonging to the the Krka not far from Luknja Castle. the airfield. The actual
22 The abandoned clay pit at Zalog has become a habitat for a variety of wildlife. manor house has been partly renovated and occasionally serves as an alternative exhibition space. In Zalog, about three kilometres north-east of Straža, there is an in- creasingly diverse biotope forming in an old abandoned clay pit. Af- ter the excavation of clay, which was used in the production of bricks, stopped in the 1990s, the hole was filled with water. Several different species of animals found their new habitat here; for example, the Eu- ropean pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), the only indigenous representa- tive of the freshwater (terrapin) turtle in Slovenia; there are also several species of amphibians to be found here. The European otter (Lutra lu- tra) and several species of riparian birds have found shelter here. We have a nature trail in the making, which will enable the observation of interesting flora and fauna. Another lovely feature is the 100 m wooden bridge connecting the left and right bank of the river in Loke. The The wooden bridge in Loke.
23 Straža Travel guide bridge was built in the first half of the 20th century and is part of the protected cultural heritage. During the restoration of the bridge, lights were built inside it to provide discrete illumination giving it a slightly preternatural appearance in the mist. If you decide to head for the other bank of the river, towards Drganja Sela or Ljuben, you might consider exploring the area by bicycle. While the main access route between Novo Mesto and Dolenjske Toplice or Žužemberk is less suitable for cycling due to relatively heavy traffic, the road leading towards the above mentioned towns through shady forests is very appealing. Soon after taking the road towards Drganja Sela, you have a chance to take a turn for Jelovškov Boršt. There is a sign on the right side of the road directing you towards it. Follow a forestry road for about 600 metres and you will reach the 200-hectare area of woodland known as Jelovškov Boršt. It is one of the fastest growing forests in Slovenia, containing mostly firs. The essential oils released into the air by the mighty trees have a soothing wholesome effect on people who suffer from asthma, while the tranquil environment is ideal for those seeking a bit of peace and quiet. The forest lies on impermeable clay soil left over from the last glacial period, so it is not susceptible to drought in any season. It is still possible to see the remains of a railway line built a century ago, which never served its original purpose – transporting logs to Straža – because the First World War broke out. The old railway line will eventually be turned into a tourist trail. Parts of the underground karst cave system along the Krka also har- bours the olm (Proteus anguinus), the largest cave-dwelling vertebrate in the world. The first reports of sighting these rare and interesting animals in the area of Vavta Vas appeared in the middle of the 19th century. One of the more exposed sites is going to be closed off to the public and protected to avoid endangering the olm, but by setting up an infrared camera inside, it will be possible to display it to the public over the Internet in an unobtrusive manner.
Scenic Flights Aeroklub Novo mesto Prečna 6 8000 Novo mesto tel: 041/987-123 www.aeroklub-nm.si
24 The inhabitants of Straža have finally lived to see the long-awaited footbridge over the River Krka, connecting Straža and Vavta Vas.
The bridge is supported by ten concrete pillars, five of which are anchored in the river bed. The supporting pillars are linked together by a metal structure underpinning the walking surface made from impregnated pine wood. The rail is also made from impregnated wood. The total length of the bridge is 135 metres and the width is between 2.4 and 5 metres. The widest part of the bridge has benches where passersby can have a rest. There are five lampposts positioned along the bridge. A footpath on the left bank, measuring 1080 m in length and 3 m in width, was restored to allow access to the bridge. Another footpath, measuring 95 m in length and 3 m in width, was built on the right bank of the river to connect the bridge with the primary school car park; 37 lampposts were set up along the path. Thirteen new maple trees were planted along the access ramp to the bridge. This investment provides the Straža Municipality with new foot- paths, primary school pupils with a shorter and, above all, safer route to school and the locals with a shorter route to sports and leisure areas.
The wooden footbridge leading across the Krka.
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The Straža Cultural Centre finally opened its doors after being renovated in 2012. The cultural centre comprises of a lobby, large hall, confer- ence room, multi-purpose hall, library and accompanying fa- cilities on each floor. The Straža Cultural Centre with its excellent culture and arts programme really livens up the municipal scene. This is achieved through careful programming of the local cultural and artistic activities and through cultural, scientific and eco- nomic cooperation within the municipality and the country and by encouraging mutual support. The Cultural Centre pro- vides visitors with a chance to relax, educate themselves and learn about the importance of culture and art. There are three well-equipped sporting venues providing the local inhabitants with sporting activities.
The Straža Cultural Centre
26 The Breza Sports Park is situated in the middle of idyllic countryside surrounded by woodland. The Sports Park of- fers a chance to play badminton, basketball, football or bocce or to just sit on a bench and relax. The park is also suitably equipped for organizing picnics. The sports ground next to Vavta Vas Primary School is equipped for playing basketball, volleyball and five-a-side football; it also has an athletics track, a shot put area, long jump landing pit and playground equipment for children. Vavta Vas stadium offers a chance to play football and bocce or do archery. The location is also suitable for picnics.
The Breza Sports Park
The sports ground next to Vavta Vas Primary School
The stadium in Vavta Vas
27 Straža Travel guide
There are a number of cultural, artistic, sports and entertainment events in Straža throughout the year. Some of them have quite a long tradition and are also known outside municipal boundaries.
Events Dan na Krki (A Day on the Krka) The Dan na Krki, which is organized by the Straža Municipality, has be- come somewhat of a tradition. It takes place every second week of July and attracts more and more visitors every year. Although this boating event was originally intended for bringing together the townspeople, it has now became a more national event. The participants set off in Soteska, where they are registered, receive a T-shirt and bracelet that serves as a lunch token. There are plenty of fun activities and surprises waiting for the participants between Soteska and the finish line in Zalog (en route refreshments, an accordion player, brass band, hunt for hidden treasure, etc. ). When reaching the finish line in Zalog, the participants have a snack waiting for them followed by inter-village competitions and games. There is plenty of good food and drink served at the event to help pass the time.
Practically the whole town gathers for this event.
28 Martinov Pohod (Martin’s Hike) The Martinov Pohod hike is organized every year by the Straža Munici- pality, the Straža Viticultural Society and the Tourism Society. The hike starts in Straža and continues along the Krka River to Zalog, where the participants visit the Church of St Martin and get some local re- freshments. The route then continues towards Nova Gora, Podgora, Stara Gora and Straška Gora all the while the hikers can sample wines from each wine-growing district. At the end of the hike, the hikers are treated to a warm meal and a chance to trip the light fantastic to the tune of local musicians.
The hike is not very demanding and therefore suitable for all age groups.
29 Straža Travel guide Straška Jesen (Autumn in Straža) The Straža Tourism Society has been organizing the Straška Jesen event for a number of years. Its purpose is to promote the preservation of folk traditions, customs and music. One of the highlights of the event is the wagon parade, which portrays different themes from the life of our grand- parents. The event is held in the beginning of September and accompanied by several other events such as the fine art colony, display of handicrafts and bunt cakes, diatonic accordion competition and the presentation of local wine growers. It all ends with a large fire brigade fête.
Straška Jesen is a really lively event.
30 Salamijada (the Salami Festival) The Salami Festival, which takes place in April, is visited by everyone who is interested in the production of home-made salami from Dolenjska. The quality of the salami on offer here gets better every year. During the event, trophies are awarded for the top three places and a special trophy is given to the best salami maker in the Straža municipality. All the other partici- pants receive an acknowledgement of participation. The visitors can try their hand at guessing how much the “giant salami” weighs. The “giant salami” is awarded to the person who comes closest to the actual weight.
The Straža Tourism Society Ulica talcev 9 8351 Straža
31 Straža Travel guide Inns (Gostilne) Bars and Pubs Gostilna Pod smrekco Pub Ravbar Potok 2 Na žago 13 8351 Straža 8351 Straža tel: 07/384-75-88, 041/775-253 Cafe bar –D Vavta vas 5 Gostilna Pri Mari 8351 Straža Novomeška 87 8351 Straža Kava bar Zamorček tel: 07/332-36-30 Pod Srobotnikom 9 8351 Straža Gostilna Eldorado Jurka vas 1 Bar Racman 8351 Straža Vavta vas 56 tel: 07/337-80-10 8351 Straža
Picerija Nelli Vavta vas 4a 8351 Straža tel: 07/384-70-10 Inns, Lodging Houses, Tourism in Vineyard Cottages Vineyard in Tourism Houses, Inns, Lodging
32 Lodging Houses Tourist farms with RaMar lodging Vavta vas 17 Zidanica Krštinc 8351 Straža Zavrtnica 26 tel: 07/308-43-70, 8351 Straža 041/625-246, tel: 031/661-469 041/589-826 [email protected] [email protected] www.turizem-krstinc.si [email protected] www.apartmaji-ramar.com
33 Straža Travel guide
Access, road links If travelling from central Slovenia, the Straža Municipality can most easily be accessed via the Ljubljana-Zagreb (A2) motorway, which you exit just before Novo Mesto. It is located about 80 km from Ljublja- na. The municipal area lies about halfway between Novo Mesto and Dolenjske Toplice. You can continue to Bela Krajina by way of Dolen- jske Toplice. The route through Dvor takes you either to Kočevje or Žužemberk. Establishment The Municipality of Straža was established in 2007 when it seceded from the City Municipality of Novo Mesto. The neighbouring mu- nicipalities include Novo Mesto, Mirna Peč, Žužemberk and Dolenjske Toplice. In numbers Area: 28.5 km2, population: approx. 4,000 About the Straža Municipality Straža the About Municipal Holiday 22nd April Settlements Dolnje Mraševo, Drganja Sela, Jurka Vas, Loke, Podgora, Potok, Prapreče pri Straži, Rumanja Vas, Straža, Vavta Vas and Zalog. The area spreads over the following cadastral municipalities: Prečna, Gorenja Straža, Jurka Vas, Mali Poljuben and Gorenje Polje. The central town of the municipality is Straža (around 2,000 inhabitants). Main Industries The municipality has a well developed wood industry, arts and crafts, service industry and agriculture. Infrastructure The municipality has over 80 km of (mostly) paved roads. The railway route between Straža and Novo Mesto is only used for rail freight trans- port. The municipality has a primary school, kindergarten, healthcare centre, dental clinic, pharmacy, library, post office, bank, parish house, petrol station, several bocce fields, a running track, football field, bas- ketball court, archery range and plenty of restaurants, bars and pubs.
34 Notes
35 If only we could reach across the forests and the fields, extend our hands to all mankind, a bridge that never yields.
Frane Umek
The Straža Municipality Ulica talcev 9 8351 Straža
T +386 7 38 48 550 F +386 7 38 48 558 [email protected] www.obcina-straza.si