Hrušica - Museum Collection and Archaeological Park

Contact

Hrušica - Muzejska zbirka in arheološki park

Podkraj 100, SI-5273 Col

https://www.nms.si/en/plan-your-visit/locations/ad-pirum

info@nms.si

Phone386 (0) 1 241 4439

Managed byNational Museum of Slovenia

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View from the northern part of the Roman fortress Ad Pirum to its southern lower part. Hrušica - Museum Collection and Archaeological Park

Once a strategic point on the Roman military and trade route between Aquilea and Emona (Ljubljana), the Hrušica - Museum Collection and Archaeological Park is located on the pass between Logatec and Ajdovščina. An open air archaeological site with a room of excavated items in the nearby guest house Stara Pošta ("Old Post Office") presents the important Roman military stronghold called Ad Pirum.

The site was part of an 80-kilometre-long protection system of walls and strongholds that reached from the Julian Alps to the Adriatic Sea called Claustra Alpium Iuliarum. The remains of that wall are the biggest monument to Roman times in Slovenia.

History

From the 3rd to the 5th century CE the site protected Roman lands against breaches from the barbaric tribes in the east. Supposedly the stronghold had an 8-metre-high wall and 10-metre-high towers. The stronghold is 250m long and 75m high with nearly 3m thick walls in which around 500 soldiers could dwell. It is a place of epic battles where a lot of archaeological evidence of warfare have been found in the form of the lost belongings of soldiers and centurions fighting there. But from the 5th century on, the walls did deter migration. In the early Middle Ages there is no concrete evidence that the stronghold was still in use. From the 12th to the 14th century a church was built inside, dedicated to Saint Jedert, patroness of travellers. So the route had traffic. The old Post Office, now a guest house, was a post office station from 19th century, and also a hunters lodge for the Counts of Lanthieri.

Visiting the site

Visits of the archaeological site are free of charge and cover a lot of terrain if a visitor is keen to research. It is possible to visit the museum room of archaeological findings in the guest house Stara Pošta, upon request. The best time for visits are from April to October. Guided tours are available for a fee.

International cooperation

The Hrušica Archaeological Park is included in the strategic project "Archaeological Parks of the Northern Adriatic" (PArSAJd), co-funded by the Programme of Cross-Border Cooperation between Slovenia and Italy (2007–2013).

See also

• National Museum of Slovenia

External links

• National Museum of Slovenia website

Gallery

View from the entrance of the Roman fortress Ad Pirum to its northern side where the transverse wall that divided the fortress into two parts is still visible. Hrušica - Museum Collection and Archaeological Park

View from the northern part of the Roman fortress Ad Pirum to its southern lower part. Hrušica - Museum Collection and Archaeological Park