Raka: Church, Castle and Wine Trails

Raka brings together the late Baroque Church of St. Lawrence and Raka Castle with paths through the countryside, wine and regional specialities. This offers different ways to get to know the place: through its architectural history, views, walks and local culinary traditions.

Church and Castle: Architectural History in Raka

The late Baroque Church of St. Lawrence was built between 1799 and 1804 on the site of an earlier church. Its architecture is defined by two bell towers and a richly articulated façade. The church’s furnishings include a valuable Baroque organ case, transferred from the former monastery church in Kostanjevica na Krki. In addition to its own architectural history, the church therefore has a connection to this former place of origin.

Raka Castle is considered one of the oldest medieval castles in Slovenia. Visitors can explore 34 rooms, furnished with authentic interiors dating from the 17th to the 19th century. The castle is open year-round to larger groups who have booked in advance. Tours are offered in Slovenian, Croatian and English. If you would like to see the interiors, plan your visit as a group tour and book in advance. The church and castle have different focuses: the church is notable for its late Baroque design and transferred organ case, while the castle showcases its medieval history and historic rooms.

Walks, Memorials and Views

The Ladybird Learning Trail starts and ends at the square by the Church of St. Lawrence. Along the way, it passes a pillory beside the path to Raka Castle, then continues to a chapel on Vinji vrh. From there, the view stretches across the entire Krško Basin, the Gorjanci Hills and the Kočevski Rog mountain range. Trail conditions can change seasonally; check the latest conditions before setting out.

The Cavsar Trail was completed in 2024 and offers walkers a route between historic memorials. The Cavsar viewpoint, also completed in 2024, provides sweeping views over the area around Raka. The two places offer different reasons to spend time outdoors: the trail focuses on the memorials along the route, while the viewpoint offers a panorama of the surrounding area.

Wine, Regional Specialities and Ceramics

The Raka Wine Trail runs through the wine-growing hills around Raka and is centred on tastings of local Raka specialities and Cviček wine. It starts at Cvičkov hram, described as the first embassy of Cviček. The trail also includes a visit to the Žibert wine cellar in Jelenk. Tastings and access to individual cellars may require prior arrangements; check the details before your visit.

At the Cvičkov hram Vineyard Cottage in Raka, visitors are served Cviček with bacon and the indigenous onion variety raška č’bula. This pairs the wine with two specifically named regional specialities. Those interested in crafts can discover a long-standing tradition of making ceramic objects at the Kržan farm. Visitors can try their hand at the potter’s wheel there.

Planning Your Visits

The local tourist association can organise guided tours of Raka and its attractions. If you are considering a guided tour, check the specific arrangements before your trip. The attractions offer different options for how to spend your time: architecture and historic interiors, trails with scenic views, wine and local specialities, or ceramics.

Discover more destinations: Krško, Velika Vas pri Krškem, Kostanjevica Na Krki, Armeško, Brestanica.

Back to the main travel overview: Krško.