Service Category: Za posameznike

IrMa tours

Ajdovščina – from Roman fortress to industrial powerhouse (1 – 3 people)

About this walking tour

Why was Castra here and how did Romans shape this valley? Why was this the centre of industrialisation in the wider region and what role did Ajdovščina play in Slovenia’s independence? Learn this and many more interesting facts on the walking tour of Ajdovščina!

What’s included

  • leisurely stroll around Ajdovščina city centre
  • visit to a local souvenir shop

Itinerary

Remains of Roman fortress Castra

We’ll take a walk outside and inside of the walls of this formidable fortress and learn about why it was built here, how it functioned and looked like and how daily life of a Roman soldier in it was like. Did you know its walls gave the name to the city many centuries after the fortress was abandoned?

Industrial powerhouse in the past and now

The driving forces of the early industry were a strong water flow, proximity to natural resources and a central location along important roads – Ajdovščina ticks all these boxes. It all started 400 years ago with ironworks by Hubelj spring, but it really picked up in the second half of 18th century when a paper mill was founded on the banks of Hubely river and then more and more industrial plants started to pop up. Learn about those and their legacy we can still see in the city’s economy today.

Traces left by the the Habsburg’s empire

From how German almost exterminated the use of Slovene language in the 18th century to being the hinterland of Soča front – being part of the Habsburg empire has left a permanent mark on this city.

Cradle of Slovenia’s independence

After the repressive Italian fascism regime in between the world wars the first Slovenian government was formed right here in Ajdovščina – the hall where this historic event took place is still in use today

Vila Vipolže – most beautiful Renaissance villa in Slovenia (4 – 10 people)

About the tour

Take a stroll through tumoltous past of this Renaissance jewel. From a fortress of the knights to sumptuous villa for counts Thurn and sad neglect of the last 200 years to its splendor renewed in the last years.

What’s Included

  • guided tour of the museum and development of the villa through time
  • how knight’s hall came to life in the past and today
  • local souvenir shop visit

Itinerary

Museum

We will explore various items that were found in and around villa during reconstruction – some have fascinating stories! The oldest ones are several millions years old…

Several models will tell us the story of its development through time – how it looked when it was built as a fortress in 12th century, how counts Thurn enlarged it and later on transformed it in the Renaissance beauty. When counts moved out, it was left in disrepair until it was fully renovated in the last years.

Knight’s hall

This hall serves as a gallery and a place for many events now but in the past it hosted many distinguished nobles, some say even an emperor on one occassion… Let me paint a picture of balls and feasts hosted here by illustrious Thurn counts.

Frescoes from 17th century

Learn about the legendary origins of these frescoes and discern what’s on them. Why are some parts deliberately chipped off and what’s with the engraved initials and years on the panoramic windows?

en_GB
sl_SI en_GB