Črnomelj

Mesto, ki »melje črno«, kot pove njegovo ime, so začeli klicati Črnomelj zaradi mlinarja, ki je v starko preoblečeni dobri vili namesto bele moke namlel črno, pa ga je kaznovala. A Črnomelj ni poseben le po imenu, ampak tudi po zasnovi mesta, ki se v obliki zvezde povezuje s cestami iz Ljubljane, Novega mesta, Zagreba in Reke.

The town that “mills black”, as its name suggests, came to be called Črnomelj, because of the miller who tried to scam a good fairy, disguised as an old lady, by milling her black flour instead of white. As a result, he was punished. Črnomelj is not only special for its name, but also for the town’s design, which connects to the roads from Ljubljana, Novo Mesto, Zagreb, and Rijeka in the shape of a star.

The history of Črnomelj

The pier situated between the two rivers Lahinja and Dobličinca, and has been inhabited for three millennia. The town originated during the Late Bronze Age (13th to 8th century BCE) and developed through the Iron Age until the arrival of the Roman Emperor Octavian Augustus. Late Antique Črnomelj belonged among the more important settlements in this part of the Western Balkans It was integrated into trade across a wider area, and in the mid-4th century, the first church adorned with a mosaic was constructed.

Črnomelj was first mentioned in 1228 when the Bela Krajina pre-parish was established. Before 1251, Črnomelj received market rights, as its first mayor, Fridericus iudex de Tzerneml, was mentioned at that time. The Ottomans never destroyed the town, but it was affected by several severe fires. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Črnomelj was rather dormant, only to experience renewed development in the 19th century. In 1868 the first Slovene Reading Society was established, in 1874 the firefighters were organized, in 1890 the first town school opened, and in 1941 the railroad came to Črnomelj. With the connection to the rest of Slovenia, Črnomelj rapidly modernized in the early 20th century.

During the outbreak of World War II, Črnomelj was occupied by the Italians and remained under their control until the capitulation. At that time, Črnomelj became the center of liberated territory, the heart of free Slovenia, where the foundations of the Slovene state were laid.
In Črnomelj, on February 19 and 20, 1944, the first session of the Slovene National Liberation Committee (SNOS) took place, and a day later, the Slovenian National Theatre (SNG) held its first performance. In the post-war period, Črnomelj developed into a cultural, economic, and administrative center of the Bela Krajina region. In Bela Krajina, the year 2024 is commemorated as the Year of Statehood.

Street of Culture and Street of Pretzel in Črnomelj

Past “Črnomelj’s Triple Bridge” we arrive at the Trg Svobode with the medieval castle, the Teutonic Order’s commandery, and the former savings and loan bank building. Parallel to the main street is the Miran Jarc Street, known as the “Street of Culture”, with the Church of the Holy Spirit, St. Peter’s Church, and Primožič House. In the street, you find the music school and the Črnomelj Town Museum, located in the birthhouse of the poet and writer Miran Jarc.
In Vinica you will find the birth house, turned into a museum, of one of the greatest Slovene writers, Oton Župančič. In the Village of Žuniči visit the Šokec Homestead (Šokčev Dvor), representing a Uskok Homestead. The visitors can experience handicrafts, from “seed to clothes” (“semena do gvanta”), Bela Krajina’s Easter Eggs Pisanice, process of domestic wool and hemp for ropes.

Prestarji! The inhabitants of Črnomelj are called so by other inhabitants of Bela Krajina. Strong women from Črnomelj were entrepreneurs, for this reason, they baked simple pretzels, sold them, and competed with each other who made the best pretzels.
The newest tourist gain in Črnomelj is the Treasury. It serves as a starting point to discover Črnomelj and other Bela Krajina landmarks.

2 Landscape parks and the black olm

The Municipality of Črnomelj has two landscape parks, rich with natural and cultural heritage. Lahinja Landscape Park and Kolpa Landscape Park. For Bela Krajina birch forests with bracken undergrowth are typical. Because of the abandonment of traditional farming practices, the forests with bracken undergrowth are slowly disappearing.
The feature of Bela Krajina is the habitat of the black olm or the black proteus. The black olm is endemic only to the underground waters around the village of Jelševink near Črnomelj. You can observe this nature treasure in its natural habitat in Jelševnik’s Info Center Black Olm.
Not far from Črnomelj is the most mystical archeological monument in Slovenia, hidden in the forest, Mithra Temple above Rožanec.

Jump into the Kolpa River

Rafting on the Kolpa River is very popular from June to September, the river is also suitable for fishing, camping, and other outdoor activities. In the summer months, many camping and glamping sites offer accommodations and various water activities such as rafting, canoeing, SUPing, and more. The majority of the Kolpa River falls within the Kolpa Landscape Park and is a protected area. We ask that you maintain Bela Krajina’s nature clean, and dispose your waste in the designated areas.
The village of Kot pri Damlju is the southernmost village in Slovenia. Here you can hike on the Southernmost Slovenian Trail along the Kolpa River from Radenci to Damelj, through the Kolpa Canyon, untouched nature, and peaceful spots. Refresh yourself at the Trpotec Spring, the source of eternal youth.

Top 3 Events: Jurjevanje is calling

Various concerts, events, and festivals ensure that there is never a dull moment in the Municipality of Črnomelj. In April, with Jurjevo and Green Georg, we welcome spring to Bela Krajina. At the end of June the traditional Jurjevanje takes place, the oldest folklore festival in Slovenia, which has been showcasing various folklore groups, both domestic and foreign, for 60 years. Summer is market by the youth festival ČrnFest and summer evenings at St. Peter’s Square, while autumn is the time of Saint Martin’s Day.