Tourist sights
NATURAL HERITAGE
 The main natural heritage of the Krka
valley is the central water system in Suha krajina. In the
upper stream Krka is a typical karst river with a broad background
of underground subsidiary streams, and the only Slovenian river in
which the tufa sediments are found. There are even 90 tufa barriers
in the upper Krka stream, and the most picturesque are located in
the area of Žužemberk municipality, next to Žužemberk and Dvor.
Along the tufa barriers many watermills and
sawmills were built in the past, and in Žužemberk even one of the
oldest paper-mills in Slovenia operated. The river Krka is one of
the "richest" rivers with fish, and in the past widely known Krka
crabs swam in it. Today the river is known because it provides a
number of opportunities for various water sports, and also because
it attracts many fishermen.
Among the natural sights are also two caves and lime
trees by Brezova Rebr, the Černiček cave and the
Šoln abyss by Prevole.
Lately, "the Triglav of Suha krajina", 888 metres tall St. Peter
at the cross-boarders of municipalities Dolenjske toplice, Kočevje
and Žužemberk is becoming an increasingly popular tourist sight,
and therefore the members of Dvor mountaineering club built a
mountain hut on its top.
CULTURAL HERITAGE
 Cultural heritage that has formed through incredible
history of this region is also remarkable, since even 54 cultural
monuments have been proclaimed on this region, 12 of them being of
a national importance.
The Žužemberk castle is one of the most
picturesque and typical medieval fortresses in Slovenia. Its
remains rise in their mightiness above the river Krka. The year
1000 is supposed to be engraved above the rectangular tower, from
which we can deduce that the castle was built by Viljem I, a
housband of St. Ema and administrator of Savinjska region. The
count of Gorica Albert II bought the castle in 1295 from the
aristocrat Heinzelin Marainwetz. After the extinction of Gorica
counts in 1374 the members Habsburg family became new owners of the
castle, and for a while also the counts of Celje were its
tenants.
In 1538 the brothers Jurij and Wolf Auersperg from Turjak bought
the castle. The most famous owner of the castle was definitely the
prince Janez Vajkard I Auersperg, the tutor of the emperor
Ferdinand III, court councillor and the first minister in the
Habsburg monarchy, who obtained the right of primogeniture, so that
the castle was not for sale and could pass from generation to
generation.
Many stories are connected with the castle, especially tragic
ones. The first one is from 1559. On the Candlemas and fair day,
the castle was conquered by Gregor, an illegitimate son of Jurij
Turjaški with eighteen soldiers. However, the conquest did not last
long, since Herbart Turjaški was nearby, and defeated the
attackers. They were thrown over the castle walls and their bodies
were taken to the forest.
In 1575 a tame bear killed the countess Ana von Eck, the wife of
Ivan Turjaški, in the castle courtyard. In memory of this sad event
a lime tree was planted in the garden, which grew untill 1999.
There were dire prisons in the castle, and later also several
offices and a district court, which moved out in 1893. Then the
decay of the castle began, and it received the most destructive
blow in February 1945, when the allies bombarded Žužemberk.
In the 1960s the renovation of the castle began, which got its
impetus in 1996, when the Committee for the Renovation of the
Žužemberk Castle was founded.
In summer months the summer cultural events take place in the
Žužemberk castle, in the courtyard, in the former wine cellar, and
on the square in front of the castle. The events have been
successfully organised by the tourist association of Suha krajina
from 1997. The fair days and the medieval day on July 15th, the
municipality festival, are the most attractive events for a number
of visitors.
 The area of Auersperg ironworks in Dvor.
Iron ore was treated in Dvor from the period before Romans until
the end of the 19th century. The ironworks in Dvor were one of the
biggest industrial plants in Dolenjska in the 19th century. From
its establishment in 1763, its owners were Auerspergs from Turjak,
who obtained the permission to build smelting furnaces and iron
foundry from the mining authorities. Ignac Pantz played the main
role in the development of the ironworks and became the director of
the plant in 1822. Beside various industrial and building devices,
several artistically founded objects were also made there, e. g.
candlesticks, decorative plates, coats of arms, furnaces, grave
crosses, fountains and bridges. Because of severe competition and
expensive production the ironworks stopped operating in 1891.
As a remarkable technical monument the foundry got a special
place in the scientific and literary works of dr. Matija Žargi.
The church of St. Nicholas in Žužemberk is the
oldest preserved church in our municipality. The church was built
in the 13th century, in the gothic style, and was later completed.
Inside there are the baroque altar and famous frescos from the 14th
century. The frescos of Adam and Eve were supposedly painted by
Janez Ljubljanski, the most important painter of frescos at the
time. Outside, on the façade, the fresco Storm on the Sea is still
visible and a built-in Roman tombstone.
The church of St. Agnes on Lopata. The church
with a square nave was built in the 13th century. Inside the church
there is the main altar with the statues of St. Agnes, St. Lucia,
St. Catharine, St. Mark and St. Luke, while the fresco of Archangel
Michael is above the altar. Even today, the church is still the
same as it was in 1706, when it became part of the Hinje parish.
From 1990 the restoration centre from Ljubljana takes care of its
renovation.
Remains of the Roman road. The Roman road was
leading under the hillsides from Acerv (Ivančna Gorica) through
Žužemberk and Dvor towards Črnomelj. That road was the main
connection with the rest of the world for Venets and other
inhabitants of the region. Later the imperial merchant road took
place here. The road was used untill 1859, when the new road was
built through the Krka valley. There are a number of natural and
cultural sights along the road, among them also the Naral cross by
the village Trebče. The remains of the Roman road are visible by
the church of St. Margaret above the village Vrh by Križi and in
the village Zafara by Žužemberk.
 The monument of war of national liberation on
Cvibelj stands on a 305 metres high elevation called
Tumplac, which rises above Žužemberk.
The monument with a tomb, in which the mortal
remains of soldiers are preserved, was raised in memory of 1140
partisans who lost their lives in combats in Suha krajina. Among
them are also foreign soldiers, members of international partisan
units that were part of Slovenian liberation army. The monument,
work of the sculptor Marjan Tepina, was raised in 1961.
Among the most important monuments are also
the Praznik homestead in Boršt, the Roman tombstones,
the remains of antique settlements and mounds, groups of
hay-racks and many parish churches.
Cultural life in our municipality is also very
lively, since a number of music groups and quires work in
cultural and other associations. Young athletes have had remarkable
success, especially the volleyball players, who play in the second
state volleyball league, while the section of the youngest players
is also very successful, since they have become national champions
in all the categories.
Firemen are also very active, as well as the tourist
association, which was among the first in Slovenia that obtained
the permission to work in public interest. Winegrowers are active,
too, planting the vaccinated vines on the hills in this region.
Praise goes also to all ambitious members of various associations
and clubs, who take care of different activities throughout the
year, and the association of farmers' wives and the horse-breeding
association deserve special mentioning.
Vlado Kostevc
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