History of Metlika and its coat of arms Do you know the story of the coat of arms with the two ravens on the castle tower? The old town center of Metlika retained its medieval look. The area where Metlika is located has been inhabited since prehistory and antiquity. Metlika, which was still called Novi trg v Metliki (Neumakrt) in the 14th century, received its town privileges before the year 1335. Among the town privileges were particularly important the rights to self-government, fortifications, and markets. In 1408, the Ottomans attacked Metlika, looting and burning the town. Over the next 170 years, they returned 15 times to burn and pillage the town and its surroundings. The story from the Ottoman incursions influenced the creation of the coat of arms of the Municipality of Metlika. How does the story go? “In Pungart Castle lived a countess with a heart of stone. She took wheat, wine, and cattle from the farmers. Everyone who resisted was bound by the castle’s servants, thrown into the dungeon beneath the castle tower, and left forgotten. The countess from Pungart cursed as well. Every time she got angry, she cursed so that everything froze in terror and fear. Her curses had special power: everyone who was cursed by the countess was petrified. During the Ottoman incursion, Metlika was often attacked. They destroyed the farmers’ houses, but could not damage the Pungart Castle. The countess ordered the guard to wake up all servants if the Ottomans came close to the castle. One night the two guards fell asleep and the Ottomans climbed over the wall and broke into the castle. When the countess realized, that the Ottomans conquered her castle without a fight, she cursed the slumbering guards. Be damned you sleepy guards! You shall become - ravens! It happened instantly: the guards turned into ravens and croaked as they flew onto the castle's tower roof. The Ottomans burned the castle down and killed the evil countess. Pungart was in flames, only the castle tower remained intact. Night and day the two ravens, perched on the tower, croaking sadly.”(1997 Lojze Zupanc: The Girl and the Snake)