Koroška is the smallest region in Slovenia, along the northern border with Austria and just east of the Karavanke Mountains. It is a forested region with 3 river valleys and the Pohorje Mountains. The incredible team at Discover Koroška planned a perfect day trip for me to explore the region for the first time. They were very generous and I would love to return the favor so if you would like to see more collaborations go head over to their Instagram and show them some love!
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I put the Tourist Information Center in Slovenj Gradec in Google Maps, popped in my current favorite playlist No Bummer Summer, and I was off! As I began my drive it was still early in the morning so there were layers of fog weaving in and out of the trees along the highway. It was mesmerizing and I wanted to take pictures so badly but you know, driving.
After an hour the sky opened up and the sun began to shine. The route shifted from the highway to small towns sprinkled with orange-roofed houses, farmlands, forests, and a road that I swear will never fit two cars but the signs say it is meant for two cars. After an hour and a half, I arrived in Slovenj Gradec.
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What to do in Slovenj Gradec
I arrived in Slovenj Gradec and was immediately impressed with the beautiful buildings, clean streets, and calmness. Living in Ljubljana, while great, can feel a bit chaotic in the summer with hoards of tourists flooding the streets. Here in Slovenj Gradec was a respite from the rest of the world. I met with Marija Lah, from Spotur, who would be giving me a tour of Slovenj Gradec and answering all of my Koroška questions.
Slovenj Gradec is the largest settlement of Koroška, but that isn’t saying much as the population is only around 7,000 compared to Koroška’s 70,000. It was given town rights in 1267 but was first mentioned in a 1091 deed. One of the first things you will notice when wandering down Glavni trg might be the medieval layout of the town that is still preserved and a large statue of a horse in the middle.
This horse was designed by famous Slovene designer Oskar Kogoj. This particular piece is a called the Venetian Horse and there are 5 of these in existence. In Slovenj Gradec, in the World Trade Center in Ljubljana, in front of the Palace of Nations in Geneva, the former parliament building in Jerusalem, and in Sochi in Russia.
Slovenj Gradec is designated as a Peace Messenger City and participates in regular meetings to promote peace and understanding between participating nations. Slovenj Gradec has been a member since 1989 and served on the executive board since 1997. Because of their involvement in this initiative, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations gifted the town a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.
Rotenturn Manor is just behind Glavni trg and is currently used for the municipality and mayor but also for events and weddings.
Farmers Market
Towards the end of the tour, Marija told me she would take me to the farmer’s market but warned me that it isn’t like many. We arrived at just two small stands selling their foods and then several covered huts with vending machines inside. One had milk, another yogurt, and another had eggs all brought from the same farm. She explained that most people keep gardens in the area so a farmer’s market is a bit useless but the vending machines are very popular with the locals to get fresh dairy products.