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Encyclopedia
Ravne Castle is a castle near the town of Ravne na Koroškem
, in the Carinthia
region of northern Slovenia
.
, on the Ravne plateau near the banks of the Meža
river.
In the mid-17th century the castle passed into the hands of the Sichten family, and a foundry
was established on the terrace beside the river. From 1700 on it was owned by the Gačnik (Schlangenberg) family. In 1809 it was bought by the counts Thurn, who rebuilt it into its current neo-baroque
form in 1863 and established the surrounding park.
The historian Janez Vajkard Valvasor
included an etching of the castle in his 1688 Topographia Archiducatus Carinthiae, the image likely reflecting the appearance of the original Hebenstreit building.
The castle's most recent renovation was conducted with respect to its cultural value. Since 1949 it has housed the "Dr. Franc Sušnik Central Carinthian Library" . The Likovni salon ("Art Salon") shares the site, operating (under the auspices of the Ravne Museum) exhibits on the history of the town and the Meža river valley, as well as regular art exhibits. Since 1969, artistic retreats have been held at the castle; as a result, the castle exhibits include a rich collection of paintings and small sculpture.
Ravne na Koroškem
Ravne na Koroškem is a town and a municipality in northern Slovenia. Until 1918, the town was part of the Duchy of Carinthia. It is the largest town in the traditional Slovenian province of Carinthia and its capital. Its Slovene name means 'Ravne in Carinthia', in order to distinguish it from...
, in the Carinthia
Carinthia (province)
Slovenian Carinthia or Slovene Carinthia, most commonly simply Carinthia is a traditional region in the north of Slovenia. It has no official status as an administrative unit within Slovenia, although the association with an informal province is still quite common.The region is referred to as...
region of northern Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
History
The castle's German name is derived from the name of the Hebenstreit family, who built the castle in the 16th century. It is located on a gravelly terrace above the center of town of Ravne na KoroškemRavne na Koroškem
Ravne na Koroškem is a town and a municipality in northern Slovenia. Until 1918, the town was part of the Duchy of Carinthia. It is the largest town in the traditional Slovenian province of Carinthia and its capital. Its Slovene name means 'Ravne in Carinthia', in order to distinguish it from...
, on the Ravne plateau near the banks of the Meža
Meža
The Meža is a long river in Carinthia, Slovenia. It has its source on the Austrian side of the state border near Mount Olševa, becomes subterranean a kilometer from its source, and reappears on the surface in Koprivna near Črna na Koroškem, Slovenia. It is the central river of the Mežica Valley...
river.
In the mid-17th century the castle passed into the hands of the Sichten family, and a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
was established on the terrace beside the river. From 1700 on it was owned by the Gačnik (Schlangenberg) family. In 1809 it was bought by the counts Thurn, who rebuilt it into its current neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
form in 1863 and established the surrounding park.
The historian Janez Vajkard Valvasor
Janez Vajkard Valvasor
Johann Weichard Freiherr von Valvasor or simply Valvasor was a Slovenian nobleman, scientist and polymath, and a fellow of the Royal Society in London.-Biography:...
included an etching of the castle in his 1688 Topographia Archiducatus Carinthiae, the image likely reflecting the appearance of the original Hebenstreit building.
The castle's most recent renovation was conducted with respect to its cultural value. Since 1949 it has housed the "Dr. Franc Sušnik Central Carinthian Library" . The Likovni salon ("Art Salon") shares the site, operating (under the auspices of the Ravne Museum) exhibits on the history of the town and the Meža river valley, as well as regular art exhibits. Since 1969, artistic retreats have been held at the castle; as a result, the castle exhibits include a rich collection of paintings and small sculpture.