Skofja Loka – Escape to the Middle Ages

The settlement of Loška began to develop at the confluence Selška and Poljanska Sora already in the Middle Ages, and its history begins as early as 973, when the German emperor Otto II. donated the territory of Loša to Bishop Abraham of Freising in Bavaria. The Freising bishops renamed the administrative and economic center of the Loka dominion to Škofja Loka (Bischoflack), and the name of the place has been preserved to this day. But let's see for ourselves whether this old town still retains the charm of the Middle Ages. From Ljubljana, we drive in the direction of Medvode and during the drive we do not forget to catch glimpses of nature, which is slowly changing its disguise and preparing for the coming winter season. At the sign for Škofja Loka, turn right and continue driving. When we see the signpost for the Trat Industrial Zone, we know that we are already very close. If we too are thinking that it would be good to change the annual blanket for a warmer and thicker one, or if we just want new colorful patterns for our bedding or blankets, turn right at the intersection, where after a few meters on the left we will see the Odeja Škofja Loka store with a wide selection of -those. We will also catch colorful glimpses when we continue driving to the city center, where we leave our vehicle and explore on foot.

Creative pulse
Although the pleasant warmth in the room tempts us and makes us a little lazy, let's just keep going, because we're just at the beginning. We walk across the bridge and stop in front of the parish or Šentjakob church, which was built in the 15th century on the foundations of a church at least 200 years older. From the square in front of the church, we go to a narrow street, squeezed between tall houses, where the Writing Room is hidden, a sales gallery where, in addition to the original offer of home furnishings, every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. they offer a free chat about furnishing your home. They also organize various creative workshops for children, at times that we can choose ourselves within their working hours. Following the creative pulse, let's continue our journey to the end of the street, where we turn right through the arched passage and we are already on the Stone or Capuchin Bridge, whose arch joins the banks of the Selška Sora. In 1888, the more than 600-year-old bridge was renovated, equipped with a fence, and a statue of John Nepomuk, the patron saint of bridges, was placed on it, with the Loch coat of arms on the base. On the left bank of Selščica, you can see the Capuchin church, the monastery and the library from the beginning of the 18th century, and then look towards the Loška Castle and climb up to it along the footpath along the castle walls and in the shade of the chestnut grove. Loška Castle, which is first mentioned in a document from 1202, was built on the edge of a natural terrace and a settlement of merchants and craftsmen began to emerge below it. At that time, the castle was intended for the residence of the guardian or headman and the bishop of Freising when he came to Loka. After the earthquake in 1511, Bishop Filip thoroughly restored it, and it was also rebuilt several times later. Since 1959, the Loška Museum has had its premises in the castle, which is open every day except Monday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and in its collections mainly stores the wealth of the former Loška lordship from 973 to 1803. Let's take a walk through the castle garden, and then let's go down the scenic route back to the City Square.

A delicious afternoon
On the Town Square, pay attention to the Ika store, which, with its offer of unique products and creations by various Slovenian artists, further enriches the old town. Finally, we visit the Homan house, a bourgeois mansion consisting of three buildings. Here, on the first floor, you can enjoy lunch in a restaurant with a rich selection of Slovenian cuisine. Then we go down to the ground floor, to the pastry shop and cafe, which is also known for its excellent Royal Mignon cakes. But let's not forget the trademark of Homan House, the mighty lime tree in the garden, which has hosted many well-known and lesser-known musical performers under its canopy on summer Friday evenings. We save the pleasant sitting under its canopy for warmer days, turn back the time machine and head home.