In the middle of Slovenia, on the northern hillsides of the Lower Carniola region, 412 meters above sea level is situated the Renaissance Bogenšperk Castle, which represents one of the most important cultural monuments of Slovenian history.
I n the country language the castle and its surroundings Wagensperk are called Bogenšperk; it lies in Lower Carniola, four miles from Ljubljana. This castle is one of those old mountain kind of castles that are built on the high hill among the woods. From here there is a nice view of the white mountain peaks towards the Styria and Carinthya, clean and healthy air although there is no flat land but on the contrary there are fields on the hills. There the best sorts of fruit grow-there are four or five cherries on one stem. There are vineyards close by and beautiful black and yellow marble not far from the castle. I have already written about this.«
Practically in the centre of Slovenia, half way between the geometrical centre of Slovenia and the medieval monastry called Stična, close to the main roads of Lower Carniola, Zasavje region and Ljubljana regon there is one of the most important culture monuments in Slovenia- the renaissance castle Bogenšperk.
Today’s form of the castle was built after the year 1511, when the old medieval fortress was damaged in the earthquake. The Wagen family could not live there anymore so the typical renaissance building with two round towers was built.
Bogenšperk is well-known to public for its architectural elements but as well as the home of the famous polyhistor and researcher Janez Vajkard Valvasor. He has been the only member of the British Royal Society from our country ever since.
Valvasor was born in the year 1641 in Lubljana and diad in 1693 in Krško. He owed the castle Bogenšperk in the years 1672-1692. During his stay at the castle he was writing his famous work in which he writes about the Cerkniško lake, the edition of his work and about the plan for the Ljubelj tunnel. He became famous for his publishing the monumental work The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola which was published in the year 1689 in Nurnberg-Germany. The book has over 3500 pages and it offers the unique presentation of the centre of today’s Slovenia 300 years ago. It is a very important source for the experts who deal with the country history in the past centuries. So we can truly say that Valvasor carried the glory of Bogenšperk castle with his researches and published literary work far beyond the borders of modern Slovenia. The castle had been changing his owners a lot. The last owners were the family Windischgraetz- from the middle of the 19th century till the Italian occupation in September 1943. After the year 1945 the castle was completely robbed out and the last owners departed with all of the value-stuff. From 1949 the castle was occupied for 15 years by jesuits that maintained the castle in order to prevent it from destruction. After the year 1972 the systematic reformation took its place, and this represents today- because of the Valvasor’ s heritage – one of the most important culture monument in Slovenia. Since 1999 it has represented the monument of important Slovenian national meaning. The Community of Litija has been the owner of the castle and since 1998 it has been managed by the Community Service called “ Javni zavod Bogenšperk .“
Valvasor’s working room is a space for which the famous polyhistor in The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola wrotethat he ordered to place four stone blocks, and this dominantly put a mark on the room itself. In this room Valvasor prepared his projects and his work for publishing. In that way the room itself is decorated because it has a wide palate of work insights of his publishing editions, like modern work on the theme about Janez Vajkard Valvasor. The main object captures the original of his work written in the year of 1689 – The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola. COPPERPLATE STORE Valvasor’s graphic arts is exhibited in two places. In the first place we can observe some of his work that was made in the graphic institution. This supplements a modern technical presentation of his graphic and of his technique of copperplate printing. The other place offers a reconstruction of printing office, as it was at the time of Janez Vajkard Valvasor. The main object is certainly a copy of a printing press (the original is located in Mainz).
The White castle in the middle of green forests…Sounds of wheels of carriage under the lime trees…Wedding march which loudly rings out of castle’s organ…Red velvet in the wedding room…Friendly hostess who leads wedding guests through the wedding protocol…A toast to a married couple with champagne in the artistic environment of castle’s gallery…Moments of happiness caught in a camera in the wedding workroom forever…Fatal yes, recorded on tape…And a group picture taken in front of the castle for a remembrance how it all started.
The Wedding at the castle Bogenšperk is something special. Although every wedding is something special because itrepresents the union of two hearts which become one. But to keep the memory of this event joined with experiences of unique environment of renaissance castle Bogenšperk, the cultural statue of national meaning is really a thing for a sweet tooth. The ride with carriage under the lime trees, the wedding ceremony in the castle’s library which served in its own time as a study room for Valvasor, the church wedding in the castle’s chapel, wedding pictures from castle’s arcades, a look at the newly-wedded on the castle’s balcony where they look like Romeo and Juliet, a possibility of wedding party in the knight room or in style designed rooms of the castle, a reception with the landlords and blessing of the landlord. Your wedding is your fairytale. Experience it at the castle Bogenšperk.
