Visoko Mansion

Contact

Dvorec visoko

Visoko pri Poljanah 1, SI-4223 Poljane nad Škofjo Loko

https://www.poljanskadolina.com

zavod@poljanskadolina.com

info@loski-muzej.si

Phone386 (0)31 720 573

Managed byŠkofja Loka Museum

Visoko Mansion, built in the 17th century, is located in the embrace of the Škofja Loka hills and forests in the beautiful nature of Poljanska valley. This mighty rural mansion is best known for one of its owners – Ivan Tavčar, one of the most recognized Slovenian writers and politicians, after whom the mansion is named. The former owners, the Kalan family, were also the source of inspiration for Tavčar’s most famous work, Visoko Chronicle.

History

The Škofja Loka area is dotted with numerous castles and mansions. The earliest date back to the 13th century, others were completely transformed after the great earthquake of 1511, and the youngest among them were built as recently as the 17th century. The castles and mansions were built in carefully chosen locations, which visitors from far and wide still find breathtaking today. Some also contain museums that invite visitors to acquaint themselves with the history and way of life in the Škofja Loka area in past centuries. One of them is Visoko Mansion.

Visoko Mansion is the historical countryside mansion from 17th century and is a prime example of the local architecture of the region. Its former owners, the Kalan family, were the source of inspiration in writing the historical novel Visoko Chronicle, published in 1921 by one of the most renowned Slovenian novelist Ivan Tavčar (1851-1923). In 1893, the writer and his wife, Franja Tavčar (1868-1938), politician and one of the first Slovenian feminists, purchased the property and used it for their annual residence. Visoko Mansion is also their final resting place.

Today, the Visoko Mansion is a historic and cultural venue with a rich museum collection, a café and summer garden. In 2017, it was declared a cultural monument of national importance. Its owner is the Municipality of Gorenje vas – Poljane.

Programme

Visoko Mansion is one of Slovenia’s most important architectural monuments, a pearl of Slovenian cultural heritage. It constitutes the peak in the development of rural architecture, reflecting the economic power and spiritual horizons of the richest class of farmers in Slovenia from the second half of the 17th century on. Today, the estate is formed by a former residential building, now used for permanent exhibitions, cultural events and also as a wedding hall. The permanent exhibitions under the care of the Škofja Loka Museum bear the common name “The Visoko Mansion tells its Stories” (“Visoška domačija pripoveduje”). There are four in total, for example the history and building development exhibition, exhibition about Ivan and Franja Tavčar, their book collection, etc. At the location, there is also an economic building with a typical Slovenian double hayrack and a chapel with a family tomb. In the vicinity, a bronze statue of the writer Ivan Tavčar is set up, looking towards his birthplace – Poljane. The pristine nature is also perfect for a bicycle trip or a guided incentive trip. The café and confectionery inside the mansion are furnished to resemble the 17th century.

External links

• Visoko Mansion web page on the Loški Museum website
• About the Slovenian-Italian EU Interreg project MerlinCV
• Presentation of the Visoko Mansion on the municipality website (in Slovenian)
• Photos of the Visoko Mansion