The imposing Rajhenburg Castle, already mentioned in written sources from the years 838 and 895, is today a museum dedicated to art and history. Attacked, sacked and remodeled several times by the Hungarians and the Turks, it took on its present form in the 16th century at the behest of Count Fallenstein. In 1884 it was bought by the French Trappists and converted into a monastery; in the annexed farm chocolate and liqueurs were produced, an activity documented in some rooms. During the Second World War, this imposing structure was used as a prison for political prisoners waiting to be sent to concentration camps; in some rooms are exposed their testimonies.
Grad Rajhenburg History
Perched on a rocky outcrop sixty meters above the confluence of the Brestanica stream and the Sava River, Rajhenburg Castle has dominated the surrounding countryside for centuries. It was built between 1131 and 1147 by Archbishop Konrad of Salzburg, a powerful landowner. The oldest, Romanesque part of the building dates from this period. For centuries, the castle and its surrounding property were managed by agents or ministeriales, who took the name of the castle 'Reichenburg'. The Reichenburgs were an influential family and received a knighthood in the 15th century. After the extinction of their line, their successors added contemporary elements to the building and thus gradually gave it the appearance we can admire today. In 1881, Rajhenburg Castle was purchased by Trappist monks and converted into a monastery. It remained active until April 1941, when the German authorities turned the castle and its annexes into a deportation camp for Slovenes. In 1947, the Trappist order was disbanded and the castle nationalized. In June 1948, a penal and correctional institution for women was established there, followed by other penal institutions. In 1968, an exhibition on Slovenian deportees was established at the castle. Since then, the facility has served primarily as a museum and venue for events.
After denationalisation procedures concluded in 2004, the castle became the property of the Municipality of Krško. Today, the fully restored structure is managed by Kulturni Dom Krško, a local cultural institution. Visitors to the castle can attend various events (concerts, plays, lectures, etc.), and learn about the history of the castle, the town and the surrounding area in permanent and temporary exhibitions. Walking through the building, you can learn about the architectural development of the castle in the Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance periods up to the present day. There are two chapels in the castle complex: the original Romanesque chapel from the 12th century and the later Gothic chapel, added in the 16th century. The Renaissance residential area boasts a magnificent hall and ends in a room decorated with sumptuous frescoes. Museum installations at the National Museum of Contemporary History offer a glimpse into the history of Trappist monks, the fate of Slovenian deportees, and the period when the castle was home to various penal institutions. Visitors can also see castle furniture from the collections of the National Museum of Slovenia. Landscapes of Brestanica from the late 19th century and scenes illustrating various aspects of local life are depicted in a series of old postcards on display. Also on display in the castle are gold medals won at the Olympic Games and world championships by hammer thrower Primož Kozmus, Brestanica's most famous athlete. Works by academic painter Jože Ciuha decorate the walls of the Renaissance hall. Art exhibitions are also held in the Great Hall, which is distinguished by its four-pane Gothic window with a stone cross. Since Rajhenburg Castle is one of the most important medieval castle architectural monuments in Slovenia, we give special importance to the architectural history of the building.
In 2014, a herb garden was created on the carefully arranged castle grounds. This element of Trappist heritage is further enlivened through cultural and tourist events such as the Rajhenburg Chocolate and Liqueur Day and the Rajhenburg Sparkling Wine and Cheese Day. A wine gallery operates in the castle cellar, while the museum store provides exhibition catalogs and numerous local products including local Brestanica chocolate. The castle café serves coffee and excellent pastries. With its picturesque setting, the fully restored castle is also a wonderful wedding venue. Its modern furnishings mean that the entire building is also accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.
The renovation of the castle building conducted between 2010 and 2012 was funded through the Operational Program for Strengthening Regional Development Potentials 2007-2013 as part of the priority "Networking of Cultural Potentials" within the priority axis "Integration of Natural and Cultural Potentials".