Črnomelj – City History and Natural Heritage

The settlement site of Črnomelj has been inhabited for more than 3,000 years, with only brief interruptions. The city’s history, a Late Antique mosaic and two landscape parks offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Discover the City’s History at the Museum

The permanent exhibition of the Črnomelj City Museum collection covers the history of the city, its surrounding area and its people. Archaeological materials, archival sources, photographs and reconstructions offer different ways to explore these subjects. Finds, written sources and images are presented side by side, offering a way to learn about the past not only through individual dates, but also through a variety of evidence.

The city museum collection is housed in the birthplace of the writer Miran Jarc. The exhibition therefore explores the history of the city and its surroundings in a place that also has a biographical connection to Jarc.

Natural and Cultural Heritage in the Municipality

The Lahinja Landscape Park and the Kolpa Landscape Park are both located in the municipality of Črnomelj. Both are rich in natural and cultural heritage. If you would like to explore these subjects as well as the city’s history, the two parks offer a distinct focus for planning your trip.

Šokčev dvor, an open-air museum and information centre, is located in Žuniči in the Kolpa Landscape Park. By prior arrangement, you can take part in workshops there on embroidery, processing wool and flax, and making decorated Easter eggs. The topics range from textile techniques to decorative design.

The Kolpa Landscape Park offers guided programmes for smaller and larger groups along various routes. They explain the area’s natural features, biodiversity and cultural heritage. Two hiking trails with different local connections also start in Žuniči: the Grajska pešpot runs between Žuniči and Dragoši, while the Sejemska pot leads from Vinica to Žuniči.

Mosaics, Mining and City Routes

The Church of Sv. Duh is in the historic centre of Črnomelj. It features a Late Antique mosaic and hosts musical events and various exhibitions. It thus complements the museum collection with another cultural point of interest in the city centre. If you are interested in an event, check the dates before your trip.

The Kanižarica Brown Coal Mine Museum presents the history of the mine from its establishment in 1857 to its closure in 1997. Visitors can experience what miners’ work was like in an artificial mine tunnel. The historical dates and the tunnel convey different aspects of mining history: the period the mine operated and the work underground.

The Damelj cycling route also passes through the historic centre of Črnomelj, including Črnomaljski grad and Komenda. Zakladnica serves as a starting point for finding your way around the city and exploring Črnomelj and other sights and natural attractions of Bela krajina.

Practical Information

Ajdovo zrno was presented at the municipal opening on 28 September 2024 as a tourist arrival and departure point for visitors to the centre of Črnomelj. The opening announcement mentioned charging stations for electric cars and a service charging station for electric bicycles. If you plan to use these charging facilities, check in advance whether they are currently in operation.

TIC Črnomelj is located at Ulica Staneta Rozmana 1, 8340 Črnomelj. Discover more destinations: Adlešiči, Tanča Gora, Griblje, Štrekljevec, Črnomelj, Semič, Dragatuš, Komarna Vas, Mavrlen.

For the broader travel overview: Slovenia.