Gradac, Slovenia
Encyclopedia
Gradac is a settlement in the Municipality
of Metlika
in the White Carniola
area of southeastern Slovenia
. It lies close to the border with Croatia on the river Lahinja
. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola
and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region
. The village is best known for its well-preserved Gradac Castle.
s, potters) and farmers lived in the village.
It also has a small outdoor sports field for handball
and basketball
. This is located near the new fire station which was built in the 1980s. A small airport, mainly for gliders
and light aircraft is located in nearby Prilozje
.
was founded in Gradac.
A military school for partisan
officers was located in the castle during World War II
between 1944 and 1945 when the White Carniola region was liberated from occupation forces.
Despite its relatively small size, Gradac used to have a rich cultural scene. The local theatre as well as the carnival
organisation Gradaški mački are remnants of this.
. It belongs to the cultural heritage fond of Slovenia. It was first mentioned in written documents dating to 1228.
There is a large park around the castle. There are plans to restore the castle and renew the park
. The Municipality of Metlika fixed the roof of the castle to prevent further decay. Talks with potential investors from Italy and Ireland were however unsuccessful.
The public discussion about the future of the castle intensified again in 2006. This happened when the Slovenian regional development program for south-east Slovenia was discussed. and right before the regional elections.
Since the summer of 2006, locals have begun a relatively successful campaign to revitalize the castle. Following local initiatives, the Metlika municipality authorities as well as the Ministry of Culture in Ljubljana became more actively involved. There are plans for a hotel to be established in the castle.
In March 2009 the MP
Renata Brunskole, who is also mayor
of Metlika, put a question to the Minister of Culture Majda Širca about the government plans for the castle. Although the minister's response was not encouraging, the ministry for the interior included the castle into the project Invest in Slovene Tourism.
. Old scales
for weighing livestock can also be seen nearby. A number of buildings have been listed as cultural heritage monuments by the Slovenian ministry of Culture.
These are
The community is planning to build a waste-water facility in the near future.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of Metlika
Metlika
Metlika is a town and municipality in the southeastern Slovenia. It lies on the left bank of the river Kolpa on the border with Croatia. The municipality is at the heart of the area of Bela Krajina, the southeastern part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola. It is now included in the...
in the White Carniola
White Carniola
White Carniola is a traditional region in southeastern Slovenia on the border with Croatia and is the most southern part of the historical and traditional region of Lower Carniola. Its major towns are Metlika, Črnomelj, and Semič, and the principal river is the Kolpa, which also forms part of the...
area of southeastern Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. It lies close to the border with Croatia on the river Lahinja
Lahinja
Lahinja is a river in White Carniola, the extreme southeastern part of Slovenia. It is long and originates from several karstic sources at the end of a steephead valley between the villages of Knežina, Belčji Vrh, and Mali Nerajec....
. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola
Lower Carniola was a kreis of the historical Habsburg crown land of Carniola from 1849 till 1919 and is nowadays a traditional region of Slovenia. Its center is Novo Mesto, while other urban centers include Kočevje, Grosuplje, Krško, Trebnje, Mirna, Črnomelj, Semič, and Metlika.-See also:* Upper...
and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region
Jugovzhodna Slovenija statistical region
The Southeast Slovenia statistical region is a statistical region in the south-east of Slovenia. The largest town in the region is Novo Mesto. It is the largest region in Slovenia. It has the highest share of young people with 15.8%...
. The village is best known for its well-preserved Gradac Castle.
Community
Gradac has a railway station (Gradac), a post office, a small shop, two coffee shops and a small industrial park. Traditionally many craftspeople (stonemasons, locksmiths, wainwrightWainwright
A wainwright is a tradesperson skilled in the making and repairing of wagons . The word is the combination of the archaic words "wain" and "wright" .In places:*Canada...
s, potters) and farmers lived in the village.
It also has a small outdoor sports field for handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. This is located near the new fire station which was built in the 1980s. A small airport, mainly for gliders
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
and light aircraft is located in nearby Prilozje
Prilozje
Prilozje is a small settlement in the Metlika municipality in the Bela Krajina area of southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Jugovzhodna Slovenija statistical region....
.
History
On 18 June 1944 the Slovenian Red CrossSlovenian Red Cross
The Slovenian Red Cross was at first part of the Yugoslav Red Cross and established as an independent entity after the Slovenian proclamation of independence in 1991. It has its headquarters in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Its president is Franc Košir....
was founded in Gradac.
A military school for partisan
Partisans (Yugoslavia)
The Yugoslav Partisans, or simply the Partisans were a Communist-led World War II anti-fascist resistance movement in Yugoslavia...
officers was located in the castle during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
between 1944 and 1945 when the White Carniola region was liberated from occupation forces.
Despite its relatively small size, Gradac used to have a rich cultural scene. The local theatre as well as the carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
organisation Gradaški mački are remnants of this.
Castle
Gradac Castle is castle with a moatMoat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
. It belongs to the cultural heritage fond of Slovenia. It was first mentioned in written documents dating to 1228.
There is a large park around the castle. There are plans to restore the castle and renew the park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
. The Municipality of Metlika fixed the roof of the castle to prevent further decay. Talks with potential investors from Italy and Ireland were however unsuccessful.
The public discussion about the future of the castle intensified again in 2006. This happened when the Slovenian regional development program for south-east Slovenia was discussed. and right before the regional elections.
Since the summer of 2006, locals have begun a relatively successful campaign to revitalize the castle. Following local initiatives, the Metlika municipality authorities as well as the Ministry of Culture in Ljubljana became more actively involved. There are plans for a hotel to be established in the castle.
In March 2009 the MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Renata Brunskole, who is also mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Metlika, put a question to the Minister of Culture Majda Širca about the government plans for the castle. Although the minister's response was not encouraging, the ministry for the interior included the castle into the project Invest in Slovene Tourism.
Other historical buildings
The old fire station is located near the village crossroads to SemičSemic
Semič is a market town and a municipality in Slovenia in the traditional region of White Carniola in southeastern Slovenia. The municipality is included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region. It gets its name from Semenič Castle that used to stand on a hill above the settlement...
. Old scales
Weighing scale
A weighing scale is a measuring instrument for determining the weight or mass of an object. A spring scale measures weight by the distance a spring deflects under its load...
for weighing livestock can also be seen nearby. A number of buildings have been listed as cultural heritage monuments by the Slovenian ministry of Culture.
These are
- The Baricin house (with a U-shaped floor plan)
- The Hanzel house (with a large painting of traditional White Carniolan costumes in the staircase)
- The Macele house (until the 1980s the local post office was located in this building. The building itself dates to 1889
- The Grof farm
The community is planning to build a waste-water facility in the near future.