The Vipavski Kriz is a small, picturesque village in the Vipava Valley, with narrow cobbled streets, well-preserved houses, a castle and a cellar, a Capuchin monastery and two churches. The local town that looks like a postcard is the jewel of Slovenia.
The special feature of the village is that it was the 2nd smallest town in the world and was once the smallest town in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Today it has a population of roughly 180, to which must be added five priests.
Photos
Map - Where is Vipavski kriz?
Approach, distance, map
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Vipavski Kriz is on the west side of Slovenia, not far from the Slovenian coast (1 hour-drive). The town is located in the middle of the Vipava Valley. It is only an hour from Ljubljana. The area belongs to the statistical region of Inner Carniola and is next to the town of Ajdovščina.
- Distance from Ljubljana: 1 hour / 85 km
- Distance from Slovenian coast: 1 hour / 80 km
- Distance from Ajdovščina: 5 minutes / 4.5 km
More about the city
Although there are written records of the town only from the 13th century, it is believed that the area was already inhabited even before Roman times. The settlement was declared a town in 1532.
The houses of the village are located within the city walls. The defensive wall was built to protect residents from Ottoman raids.
In 1636, a Capuchin monastery was founded with a rich library now open to visitors.
The city has an area of only 0.49 km2 and is built on a smaller hill at an altitude of 183 meters. This way, the city will be visible wherever we go in the Vipava Valley.
The Old Town
Surprisingly, even this small village has an Old Town. Here, the streets are the narrowest. The old town is the close area of the parish - with the older houses.
Here, single-story, colourful houses with small windows leaned against the wall, while the affluent part of the city belonged primarily to citizens, artisans, or merchants living near the castle.
Their houses were bigger and more beautiful. Moreover, even the newly paved streets highlight these differences: the white cobbled streets lead from the castle to the affluent part of the city, while the black cobbled streets lead to the poorer, old town.
The people living in the castle were named grajski (meaning castle in Slovenian).
Attractions and things to do
Ancient tales surround the city, and its surroundings offer countless opportunities for walking, hiking, cycling and, of course, culinary treats - after all, this is the Vipava Valley...
The local tourist centre organizes sightseeing tours throughout the year. Optionally, you can even see the Capuchin Monastery.
Festivals, events
The tiny Slovenian village is home to many events. Most festivals are held in the summer, and the centre topic is wine tasting.
- Zelèn Wine Festival (June)
- Fair days (June)
- Zven Grajskih Sten Music and Wine Festival (August)
- Vipavski Križ Nativity Festival (December). It attracts crowds with its nativity scenes set up on tiny streets, windows and churches. Around Christmas, Vipavski Križ lends a magical appeal with its baroque hue, further enhancing the festive atmosphere.
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