Metlika: Wine Tradition and Old Town History

Metlika brings together a medieval old town, wine tradition and cultural experiences. Alongside traces of the past, you’ll find a recurring folklore tradition, a three-day wine festival and experiences centred on wine and Belokranjska pogača. Walking and cycling routes also offer different ways to explore the town.

Old Town, History and Culture

The oldest part of Metlika lies below Veselica Hill. The area was already settled in prehistoric times, while the town itself was established in the Middle Ages. By 1365 at the latest, Metlika, then known as Novi trg, already had a town wall. Metliški grad was first mentioned in 1456 and is probably much older.

At Metliški grad, the Belokranjski Museum’s permanent exhibition is titled “The Life of the People of Bela krajina from Prehistory to the Mid-20th Century”. Galerija Kambič is located in the birthplace of academician Kambič. Its collection of national importance includes cultural and historical objects and works by various Slovenian artists. Exhibition details may change, so check the latest information before visiting.

Since 1992, the Metliška folklorna skupina Ivan Navratil has performed Metliško obredje every Easter Monday at Trg svobode in the old town centre, also known as Vuzemski plesi in igre in Metlika. It includes the metliško kolo dance and the dance games rešetca, al' je kaj trden ta vaš must, robčeci, kurji boj and turn.

Vinska vigred is a recurring three-day festival in the old town centre featuring wine, cuisine, music and folklore. At Vinski plac on Mestni trg, winemakers from Bela krajina present their wines alongside a selection of wines judged by the Društvo vinogradnikov Metlika. As the programme may vary from one edition to another, check the dates and current programme before your trip.

Wine and Regional Specialities

Vinska klet Metlika is a 108-metre-long, fully underground tunnel cellar. Built in 1958, it can hold up to three million litres of wine. Visitors can book guided tours with wine tasting; check the booking arrangements before your trip. The cellar’s wine history also has some notable dates: in 1981, Vinska klet Metlika produced the first Slovenian rosé wine; in 1986, under the direction of Dr Julij Nemanič, it produced the first ice wine in what was then Yugoslavia.

At the Belokranjska pogača preparation workshop, you make the dough under expert guidance. The activity also includes tasting traditional wines from Bela krajina and seasonal regional specialities. While the tour combines wine tasting with the historic tunnel cellar, the workshop also features making a regional baked dish and sampling seasonal treats.

Experiences and Routes

The roughly two-hour Metliška pustolovščina experience begins and ends at Hiša dobrot Bele krajine. There, you collect a backpack, equipment, a map and a light refreshment. Using the map and a series of tasks, the experience takes you through the old town centre. Metliški dragulji, by contrast, is a guided experience: a local guide shares stories, stops at important historical sites and offers insights into Metlika’s tangible and intangible heritage. The two experiences have different focuses: on the pustolovščina, you navigate using a map and tasks, while Metliški dragulji centres on the guide’s stories. Check booking details in advance.

The walking route around Metlika and through the old town centre starts at Pungart, the starting point for the town’s hiking trails. A cycling route leads from the town centre to three Gothic pilgrimage churches, through birch-dotted steljniki and vineyards with zidanice, and on to Drašiči. This pairs a walking route around the town and through its old town with a cycling route that continues as far as Drašiči. Check current route conditions before setting out.

At 233 metres high, Veselica is a hill with a strong winemaking tradition above Metlika and a popular viewpoint for locals and day-trippers. In the wider region around Metlika, kayaking, canoeing, rafting and SUP are listed as ways to get around on the water from spring to autumn. As these activities depend on the season, check conditions before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Drašiči, Gradac

Back to the main travel overview: Metlika.