Sevnica Castle
History
Sevnica Castle was probably built in the first half of the 12th century, during the bishopric of Conrad I of Salzburg (1106–1147) who colonized this area devastated by Hungarian invasions. Its first written record appears in 1309 as Castellum Liechtenwald, named after the village Liechtenwald, today’s Sevnica.
Since then, Sevnica Castle had many owners: the Archdiocese of Salzburg was only the first. At the end of 15th century, one of the owners was also the governor of Hungary Matthias Hunyady – Corvinus (1458–1490), the legendary King Matthias in Slovene folk tradition, whose army occupied considerable part of the present-day Slovene territory.
During the Croatian-Slovene peasant revolt in 1573, the castle, unlike many other castles, avoided destruction: the group of about six hundred rebellious peasants came in Sevnica under the leadership of Ilija Gregorić (1520–1574). Tenant of the manor Baron Bolthazar von Lamberg invited them in and treated them to a feast, thus saving the castle from destruction.
In the middle of the 16th century, the a large vaulted cellar was built in the vicinity of the castle. A secret space was actually used as a secret Lutheran chapel. The chapel was quite likely occasionally visited by the Slovene protestant Jurij Dalmatin (1547–1589), the first translator of the Bible into Slovenian language, who lived in nearby Krško.
In 1595 Innocenz Moscon bought the castle, rebuilt it in late-renaissance style and gave it its present form. In the following eras it was in possession of the Auersperg, Drašković and Keglević families, Habsburgs, Lambergs and many others. During the Baroque period the interior was furnished, and the room in the second floor of the south-east tower was covered with wonderful fresco painting depicting Four Seasons.
Between 1910 and 1945, the owner was Countess Matilda Arco Zinneberg from the Habsburg family. After the World War II the castle was nationalized and gradually left to destruction.
Lutrovska klet
The so-called Lutrovska klet (Lutheran Cellar) is an important art historian monument. There are no records of its construction, however historians believe that the cellar was secretly built by Baron Janez Khisl, the tenant at the time, who was known as a fierce proponent of Lutheranism. Since the owners were still the Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg, the cellar was used as a secret Lutheran chapel. The cellar was later used as a tomb for some of Sevnica's lords and noblemen, and a cellar.
At the beginning of the 17th century the vaulted interior of a building was decorated with impressive Renaissance frescoes. The style of painting represents a rare example of painting technique using oil tempera on the ordinary painting foundation. Since 2010 there is ongoing conservation and restoration work on its murals.
Nowadays the building hosts various concerts and other cultural events.
Castle collections and events
In recent years, the castle and its surroundings, which represent a magnificent medieval panorama, underwent many renovations. Today Sevnica Castle offers museum and gallery collections, permanent and temporary exhibitions, annual Sevnica Castle Festival, festive rooms, Castle chapel, Castle Park, Castle’s vineyard, Souvenir shop and Cafe. Especially for children it offers Sevnica Castle Puppet Theatre with workshops and puppet and theatre plays, and special animated tours which provide an insight into the life of Baron Moscon.