| Background
Travel through the hilly vineyards of Slovenia; tour the largest wine cellar in Central Europe. Then join HCN and our preservation partners in the Šmarško-Virštanj wine district to restore possibly the oldest “vineyard cottage” in Slovenia.
Project
The Mlinars cottage was built in two sections - the older section, built of stone in 1540, is vaulted with small dormer openings and served as an above-ground wine cellar; the facade is decorated with sgraffito ornamentation. It is believed that this cottage was used  by nearby noblemen to collect tithes from their workers. The newer section, built of wood in 1840, has a wine press designed for grapes and apples, and living quarters with a large oven finished with glazed tiles believed to be from the Renaissance period. The building, which is in poor condition, awaits stabilization and repair. The municipality of Šmartno ob Paki recently purchased the Mlinars cottage to create a museum that will preserve the art of wine making – the heart and soul of this region.
 Conservation work is beginning at the site this summer, and HCN participants will be involved in the initial stage of this fascinating project. The present plan is for volunteers to document the current building condition with photos, measurements and drawings. This work is a crucial step in the restoration project and will help guide restoration decisions. Additional fieldwork under the guidance of ethnologist Vladimir Šlibar, will involve collecting artifacts for the museum’s permanent collection. It is possible that work at the site may progress further than expected by September, in which case participants will also have the opportunity to work on masonry or wood conservation in addition to collecting artifacts.
The Mlinars cottage is HCN’s second workshop in Slovenia in partnership with Etno-Eko, a local non-profit striving to save the country’s rural heritage, and Franci Pecnik, a building conservation specialist. The first project dealt with discovery and restoration of the 17th century paint scheme in Oplotnica’s Manor House chapel. Participants in the 2006 workshop initiated the project, and their commitment and enthusiasm inspired the local community to see the work through to completion.
Logistics
Slovenia’s Savinjska Region, like the rest of the country, is stunning. It is ideal for cycling through the countryside to numerous scenic towns, and has two nearby spots for paragliding. Not far away is the glacial ‘Forester Valley’, Logarska Dolina, a regional park brimming with caves, springs, waterfalls and peaks to explore. You might consider extending your trip for several days before or after the workshop to take advantage of all the region has to offer.
The workshop will be two weeks in length and participants may register for either one or two weeks. The cost is US$575 for one week and US$1100 for two weeks, which covers lodging, breakfast and lunch (dinners not included), insurance, workshop materials and instruction. Transportation to the workshop is not included and is the responsibility of the participant. There is a discount for early registration received by May 15, 2008; see the Registration Form.
The Mlinars cottage is located approximately half way  between Ljubljana and Maribor, north of the main motorway A1. Workshop participants can fly into the international airport at Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. Airports in Austria (Vienna, Graz, Glagenfurt), Italy (Triest, Venice), and Croatia (Zagreb) offer convenient train connections to Ljubljana and Maribor. Šmartno ob Paki has a railway station on the route between these two cities. Take the train to Celje and then on to Šmartno ob Paki.
Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa to enter Slovenia. If you need a visa, apply for a short-term (Type C) visa. Be sure to leave sufficient time for processing, approximately 2-4 months.
Workshop participants will be housed in the Šmartno ob Paki Hostel, the town’s restored historic Post Office, and may check in on Sunday of the week they are attending. (Saturday night, September 20, 2008, is not included unless the participant is attending for both weeks.) Three meals each day will be provided at the hostel. Work hours at the site are generally Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, with evenings and the weekend free for exploring the area’s many beautiful sites. Three all-day guided fieldtrips are scheduled during the two-week workshop and are included in the workshop fee. These trips will take participants to the capital city of Ljubljana, to Velenje, and to the Upper Savinja Valley. Instruction will be in English and Slovene.
The average daytime high in September is 20 degrees C (70 degrees F), with cooler temperatures in the evenings and at elevation. Please bring clothing that is suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
If you need additional information, please contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net or call +1 303-444-0128.
If you find this project intriguing, but are unable to attend, you can still participate by supporting conservation work at the Mlinars cottage and at other project sites with a gift to HCN. Donations are tax deductible and will be used for a variety of needs – to provide participant scholarships, to purchase materials needed for conservation work, or to provide teaching materials, just to name a few. We have partnered with Groundspring.org to make it easy and safe for you to donate online:
If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form. |
