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May 2021

Three castles with three different experiences in a day.

On our tour we started with a hearty breakfast at the pretty Youghurtlandia  cafe in Brežice. Monica the owner made us pancakes & waffles with fresh fruit & Nutella, accompanied with a delicious frozen yoghurt & pistachio topping. Monica is passionate about coffee & hers is the best in town. It was a great way to start the day.

Just a short step away is the magnificent Brežice castle. Impressive not just for its architecture but also its well curated museum. Andre, our enthusiastic guide, picked out the highlights for us which enriched our visit. The museum brings history alive for visitors of all ages.
It traces the chequered history of the castle, which has withstood invasions, fires, peasant revolts & earthquakes, in a lively & engaging way, from the Bronze Age to the present day. It presents fascinating artefacts & stories of the lives of the people who shaped Brežice through the ages,  from Barbers to  Barons. It’s crowning glory is the Knights Hall which is gloriously painted in Baroque style by the Slovene artist, Karel Frančišek Remb.

The history of Brežice is intrinsically linked with the castle. It dates from Mediaeval times & was originally a walled city. At this time the Castle was on a hill & the River Sava, filled its moat. The Sava provided livihoods & commerce for the people living there.

The town is comprised of two main streets. Dejan, our town guide, was a mine of information & justifiably proud of his town & its history. He & several societies are determined that its historic buildings should survive. He pointed out the water tower which was built in 1914. There are plans to turn it into an observation tower which people will be able to climb & see the surrounding countryside.

Our second castle just 20 minutes away, Bizeljsko Castle can truly be classed as a “hidden gem”. It reveals its fairytale appearance as you approach up a steep windy road. It too dates from medieval times & was owned by the Wisell Knights. It also houses a  beautiful Baroque altar in suprising contrast to the air of faded gentility in the rest of the empty 36 rooms.
It is owned by the State who have provided a new roof, but is occupied by a family who live in just a few renovated rooms.
The family give added character to the castle by decorating it with interesting & sometimes humerous artefacts, pretty plants & a sturdy wysteria. The views from the windows are breathtaking.
We were greeted by Bojan who has lived in the castle since he was a boy in 1971. He is a viticulturist, who produces a great variety of bio wines from 30 thousand vines. He offers wine tastings in the cellar which we very much enjoyed. His stories of the castles history were very entertaining!

Imagine perfectly manicured meadows between groves of varied trees, over 60 varieties, and  at its centre, an imposing castle. This is Mokrice castle golf course. Your introduction to golf by Mislav starts by the impressive 10th hole, voted one of the best in Europe. After safety and etiquette rules, some introductions were made to the equipment; balls and bag, clubs and clothing, tees and trolley. Then basics of grip, swing and posture before you’re actually allowed to hit some balls. Driving, chipping and finally putting. All the time with patient encouragement and tips from Mislov. You soon learn that this hobby can become addictive!
All are welcome to walk the course, have a drink at the 19th hole or even buy a bucket of balls and try for yourself.

Reset brewery is a young project in its second year, run by an enthusiastic young team headed by Samo. In a modern warehouse setting with views into the brewery, this lively space buzzes with energy. As well as a range of beers, on tap and gas free, there is a variety of pub food. Fish and chips, two types of vegetarian burger as well as hamburgers, steak and salads. The tasting tray of five beers allows you to try a variety of flavours, in small servings, all excellent.

We stayed on one of the towns two excellent PZA’s for motorhomes. We enjoyed cycling around the largely traffic free town and took several longer rides around the lake formed by the new hydro electric dam. Water sports are also enjoyed here.

Thanks to RADIO Si and to the Brežice tourist board for a great experience, we will be back!

Karen and Spike Thorne

Photos by: Karen & Spike