Culture of Novo Mesto. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Novo Mesto will please tour-goers with a variety of historical monuments and museums. Most of the preserved city attractions can be found in the historic district of Stari Grad that lies on the banks of the Krka River. Besides beautiful old architecture, the Old Town offers several picturesque parks and squares. It is best to explore them on foot, as interesting architectural monuments can be seen at every step here.

The city's main religious monument located in the historic district is Novo Mesto Cathedral. The shrine built in the early Middle Ages looks more like an old castle. Since its foundation, its appearance has remained virtually unchanged. The main building material was light stone. Among its special architectural elements, it is worth highlighting tall narrow windows and a still-standing high tower visible from many streets of the historical district. Now a picturesque landscape park is formed around the cathedral. It is always a great place to go for a walk, the more so as its design changes from year to year.

In the vicinity of Novo Mesto, several interesting archaeological areas have been studying for dozens of years. Researchers managed to establish that the very first settlements were founded in these places more than 2,000 years ago. During excavations they found many prehistoric artifacts. All of them are put on display in the Museum of Dolenjska, one of the most visited cultural centers in the city. Here one can see collections of antique dishes and ceramics, household items, and jewelry. In recent years, the museum’s collection has been significantly replenished with archaeological and historical exhibits from other regions of Slovenia. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the most picturesque places in the Old Town is the Breg embankment. It is remarkable for the fact that an incredibly beautiful 17th-18th centuries architecture has been preserved near the riverbank. From the embankment, you can see the cathedral's spire and admire miniature houses with tiled roofs of rich burgundy color. Some historic buildings are now occupied by restaurants and shops, which makes a walk along the promenade even more interesting.

Just a short walk away is the central city square, the main decoration of which is the old Town Hall building. The square is also surround by spectacular historic buildings, some of which are over 300 years old. Once the mansions belonged to wealthy local merchants, but now most of them are converted into hotels and restaurants. The main city square is a permanent venue for major local holidays and festivals. Large fairs are organized here several times a year.

Not far from the embankment is the Kandija Bridge, another spectacular architectural monument. This pedestrian bridge is laid across the river and leads to a beautiful forest park zone. For tourists, the bridge is also an attractive viewpoint, from which they can take amazing pictures of the river and the historic embankment.

Some historical sights of a later period have been preserved in Novo Mesto. In one of the remote areas of the city, you'll find a surviving WWII bunker. The bunker is located in a large historic park and is open to the public. Several wartime artillery guns are installed here. These places are regularly visited not only by curious tourists but also by local residents.

One of the city's most spectacular architectural structures is the ancient church Frančiškanska Cerkev. It features exquisite Byzantine elements, the facade of the church is decorated with carved rosette windows and bas-reliefs, and the main feature of the church is an old clock tower. The church is located on one of the Old Town streets. Fairs and outdoor entertainment programs are often held on the square nearby.

On the outskirts of the city, there are several castles to be visited by all fans of historical places. The first official mention of Otocec Castle dates back to 1252, but researchers believe that it could have been built much earlier. For hundreds of years, it belonged to noble families and served as an important defensive point. One of the main features of the old castle is its location on a small island in the middle of the Krka River.