The Novo mesto Regional Office of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, founded in 1980, is responsible for cultural heritage in the Dolenjska and Bela krajina regions, with cultural monuments declared of high importance by the state, among them the St. Nicolas Church in Novo mesto with famous altar painting by Jacopo Robusti Tintoretto (1518 - 1594), the Brežice Castle, the Partisan Baza 20 in Kočevski rog, the Ausperg Ironworks at Dvor near Žužemberk and Mithras temple at Rožanec near Črnomelj. Recent motorway building works have uncovered an archaeologically rich region, and archaeological excavations and research work are still under way at different sites. The office has its quarters, conservation and restoration workshop and depots in Grm Castle (16th – 18th Century) with stucco ceiling decoration and wall paintings in the tower room.
The Grm Castle, built in 1586 by Krištof Mordax, combined its residential function with that of defence against the Turkish invaders; it was rebuilt in 1636.
Exhibitions
Some temporary exhibitions are organised, in 2009 exhibition Zgodovinski parki in vrtovi ("Historic Parks and Gardens") accompanied by monography, in 2006 conservation and restoration exhibition Odkritje dveh rimskih miljnikov na gradbišču AC odseka Hrastje – Lešnica na Karteljevem and another one Metode dela in izvedeni posegi na izbranih kulturnih spomenikih in dediščini on methodological approach and interventions. The latter exhibition and the accompanying manual are among study resources for the proficiency exam for heritage conservation.
Publications
Beside current writings (conservation programmes, conservation plans, guideline issues, reports) the office publishes different monographic publications, mostly on archaeological excavations and research work such as in 2006 Rimske ceste in projekt avtocest [Roman Roads and Highways Project].
The illustrated booklet about the Mithras temple at Rožanec was published in English.
See also
Other regional offices
External links
Gallery
The Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Novo mesto, whose beginnings date back to the 14th Century, features interesting architecture (a mix of Baroque and Gothic styles, and a broken longitudinal axis of the church) with a rich interior (Tinttoreto's altar painting of St. Nicholas)
The Grm Castle, built in 1586 by Krištof Mordax, combined its residential function with that of defence against the Turkish invaders; it was rebuilt in 1636.