Lože Castle - Slovenia
A unique treasure to be restored,
to save historical memory for future generations
Get to know the whole story
From an unfortified medieval manor, overlooking the green and peaceful valley of Vipava, to a residence for artists and poets from the beginning of the 18th century until the Second World War, Lože Castle and its last forward-thinking owners lived a controversial story of pains and injustice due to the course of history.
Lože Castle could be a significant piece of cultural heritage for the whole community and the new generations.
Kulturno Drustvo Von Leitenburg, a non-profit cultural organisation, is carrying on a project for saving and preserving Lože Castle, its surrounding grounds, and the natural environment. The ultimate mission is to breathe new life into the ruins and share them with the whole community as evidence of its history.
Everyone can help in different ways! We hope you’ll take a moment to discover this treasure and get involved to rescue it.
Back in the Middle Ages...
The history of Lože Castle spans almost 1000 years, starting from the building of the first estate in the Middle Ages, rebuilt from scratch, later In the 17th century, on the foundations of the medieval castle.
Meet the owners over the past
Noble families from Austria and Germany lived at Lože Castle. The House of Habsburg, a line of German Princes, and the Patriarch of Aquileia were the first owners during the Middle Ages. The most significant families for the history and culture at Lože were the Cobenzls and the Mayers, from 1579 to 1945.
"Tarok"
THE AMBULANT COMEDYBarbara Bulatović, the granddaughter of Ana Mayer Kansky, is the screenwriter and director of “Tarok” - The ambulant comedy. She tells about this original play, inspired by the story of Lože Castle and the Mayers, especially dedicated to the women of this family, as the ultimate attempt to rescue the memory of this unfortunate estate.
Save Lože Castle: take action!
Kulturno Društvo Von Leitenburg is a non-profit cultural organisation with the goal to save and preserve Lože Castle, its surrounding grounds and the natural environment. Its ultimate mission is to breathe new life into the ruins and share them with the whole community as an evidence of its history.
There are four ways to get involved in Lože Castle's Rescue Action Plan. What kind of support would suit you best?
Make a Donation
Choose one of our campaigns. Let's take the very first steps to recover and reverse years of decline of the estate and its grounds and make a donation.
Any help is welcome!
Become a Friend
Become a Member of Kulturno Društvo Von Leitenburg by choosing a membership category. Your membership will run for one year.
Enjoy your membership benefits!
Become a Sponsor
Are you a Company Owner? Let's discuss the opportunities that becoming a Corporate Sponsor may bring to your business.
Reach out now!
Volunteer with us
Take action and feel part of a group of people that work together to take care of this heritage. Your help can make the difference.
Join our Volunteer Program
The first Official Big Bench in Slovenia
Kulturno Društvo von Leitenburg joined the Big Bench Community Project in 2022 by promoting the first Big Bench in Slovenia, that was officially listed in the BB network on Sept. 18th, 2023.
It was the natural result of one of the complex and demanding projects related to the castle and the outcome of the hard work of our volunteers, the concession of the land of the Mayer family, and the donation of Dr. Luigi Conte.
Our Big Bench is #325 in the Big Bench Community Project network. You can come across it while hiking on the main trail from the Lože Castle leads to Slap.
It's on the castle grounds at the roadside. Sitting on this bench, you can enjoy the view over the Vipava Valley.
The castle is on your right.
The green and orange of the Big Bench intertwine with the colors of the most beautiful sunsets in the Vipava Valley and the typical shades of autumn leaves.
About the Big Bench Community Project
The Big Bench Community Project (BBCP) started in 2010 when Chris Bangle came up with the idea to install out-of-scale, colorful benches just off the usual tourist itineraries to support small communities with the development of tourism and local businesses. The benches are 2 m high and 3.5 m long. When you climb them, you can feel like a child: hopefully, you'll look at the landscape with wonder.
Currently, 330 benches are set up, mainly in northern Italy. Cross-border benches are in Spain, Scotland, the UK, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Romania, Poland, and… Slovenia!
The project by the American designer has been very successful. There's a Facebook group with 63,000 active members. This community of "bench" visitors travels around Italy and Europe, looking for these benches, discovering new destinations, and collecting another stamp on their special passports.
BBCP created passports and customized stamps for each bench, turning the experience into a social phenomenon. Passports are stamped and sold to those who need a new one in coffee shops or other commercial activities more or less near the benches.
Where to get stamps and passports in Vipava
Lože, 31a - 5271 Vipava, Slovenia
Tel. +386.40232496 | info@dimbikes.com
Opening times:
9:00-20:00 - 7 days a week
Ulica Ivana Ščeka, 6 - 5271 Vipava, Slovenia
Tel. +386.40232987 | info@faladur.si |
Opening times:
MON, TUE, FRI, SAT - 12:00-22:00
THU - 12:00-17:00
CLOSED WED, SUN