Otočec Castle

Lore & Background

The castle was first mentioned in documents in the 13th century, with walls said to date to 1252. It sits on the largest of 30 small islets in the Krka River, formed by cutting a southern channel to create a moat. Two wooden bridges link the island to both riverbanks, allowing traffic to pass straight through. The name Otočec means 'small island', and the castle was renamed from its German name Werth to Otočec after World War II, while the town was renamed from Sveti Peter in 1952 by the communist government.

Reader's Guide

Otočec Castle holds significance as the only water castle in Slovenia, a rare architectural feature. Its history includes ownership by Ivan Lenković, leader of the Uskoks, and the de Werde nobles (Knights of Otočec) in the 13th century. The writer Ivan Tavčar set two novels at the castle. During World War II, the castle was seized by Italians, then burnt by Partisans in 1942, leaving only ruins of its bridges. Restoration began in 1952 with roof work, aided by international brigades, and lasted six years. A restaurant opened in 1959, and the castle was later restored to its original Gothic and Renaissance appearance. Today, it operates as a luxury hotel with a world-class restaurant, a golf course, a castle park, an adventure park with a ropes course, and a boat house. It is accessible via the A2 Motorway from Novo Mesto, part of Pan-European Corridor X.

Did You Know?

• The town of Otočec was renamed in 1952 from Sveti Peter by the communist government.
• The castle was once owned by Ivan Lenković, leader of the Uskoks.