Brežice
Brežice lies at the confluence of the Sava and Krka Rivers. It used to be an important fortification protecting the passage from Pannonia to the sub-Alpine regions. In the 13th century, it had a mint and coined money. In 1515 the castle was taken by the rebelling peasants. At the next uprising in 1573, the peasants suffered a crushing defeat. Their leader Matija Gubec was thrown in jail in the Mokrice Castle.
Today the Brežice Castle houses rich collections of the Posavje Museum. Mokrice Castle sits atop a hill above the Koričanski Potok. It is surrounded by a 200-year-old English park with a surface of 60 hectares. It was first mentioned in writing in 1444 when it was in the possession of German feudal families.
The castle as it stands today was built in the 16th century. In 1944 it was attacked by the partisans but because of its strong defense, it wasn’t taken. The Mokrice Castle is thus one of the few castles in this part of Slovenia that survived WW II. Now it is a hotel with a golf course in the park. The Čateske Toplice spa is only a few kilometers away from Brežice. The water temperature of thermal springs exceeds 50°C.
Kostanjevica na Krki
From Otočec the Krka wriggles like a snake across the vast flat plain. In its sharpest loop at the foot of Gorjanci lies Kostanjevica na Krki surrounded by water from all sides.
Kostanjevica na Krki is one of the oldest Slovene towns. It was granted a town charter at the beginning of the 13th century. Today it is the smallest Slovene town. The monastery near the town was built in 1234 and it used to rule over 100 villages in the Middle Ages.
It is situated near the village of Orehovec, under the steep slope of Veliki Trebež ( 823 m ) in the Gorjanci. It was dissolved by the edict issued by Emperor Joseph II. Today the monastery building houses a gallery and a Forma Viva. Not far away is the Kostanjevica cave ( Kostanjeviška Jama ), open to tourists.
Bizeljsko
The Bizeljsko hills are scattered with numerous vineyards and isolated farms. In the remote valley under Velika Vagla, atop a rocky hill is sadly falling apart Pišece Castle. It was first mentioned in writing in 1329 and was built as it stands today in 1867.
At the village of Orešje is Bizeljsko Castle with forest-covered slopes of Kunšperk ( 597 m ) rising above it. Today the castle is part of the Trebče Memorial Park.
Above the old town core of Brežice reigns a water tower. The Brežice castle boasts the largest Festive hall with Baroque paintings in Slovenia.
The former monastery by Kostanjevica on Krka houses the Božidar Jakac Gallery and in the park is a Forma Viva.
Mokrice Castle can easily be spotted from the main road linking Ljubljana and Zagreb. The castle, now a prestigious hotel, is surrounded by a large English park with a golf course.
The wine road through the Bizeljsko-Sremiš wine district is accompanied by the noise of klopotci in Pišece. It is lined by several private wine cellars where homemade food is served with top-quality wines.
The work areas of the Orešje Castle in the Bizeljsko region house huge wine cellars. The castle sits atop a hill, just like the Pišece castle which is sadly falling apart. The Brežice Castle, on the other hand, was completely restored and houses rich collections of the Posavje Museum. Unfortunately, the Museum is only opened on weekdays, in the afternoons.