Introducing The Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje
The village of Hrastovlje in the Koper Municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia is best known for its Church of the Holy Trinity, a Romanesque structure built between the 12th and 14th centuries surrounded by a defensive wall that the local population built to protect itself from Turkish raids in the 16th century. The entire interior of the church is covered in the 15th-century frescoes by Slovenian artist Janez Iz Kastva (also known as John of Kastav or Johannes de Castua), including the eerily delightful Dance of Death or Danse Macabre as it is called in the French language. For many years, the fresco remained hidden from human eyes. It had been covered up during one of the numerous renovations undertaken since the church was built. It wasn’t until 1949 when a local sculptor discovered the spectacular fresco under a thick layer of plaster. The fresco is a wonderful example of a Dance of Death, an important artistic genre of the Middle Ages emphasizing the universality of death. The Slovenian example is one of the most unique ones and includes several details that make it truly special. For example, one of the skeletons is refusing to be bribed with gold coins, another symbolic statement about how even riches cannot prevent the ultimate fate of every human.
Most of the equally fascinating other works take their themes from the various parts of the Old Testament, and some include inscriptions in Glagolitic – the oldest known Slavic alphabet, developed by Saints Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century. The church is surrounded by the walls with two defence towers, originally built in the 16th century to protect the church from the Turkish invasions.
Review Of The Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje
The rustic village of Hrastovlje, located in the hills above the coast, only a short 20-minute drive from Slovenia’s largest coastal town Koper, is home to one of Slovenia’s most outstanding medieval treasures, the Church of the Holy Trinity. The church is perched on a grassy knoll above the village. It looks like a well fortified church and has commanding views down the valley which in itself is dotted with many small villages and hamlets each seemingly with their own hilltop church. The setting is really beautiful and the church building itself is quite impressive, looking like a small, ancient fort, but what attracts most visitors to this little church is the famous Dance of Death fresco on the south wall in which a cheerful group of skeletons lead the old and young, rich and poor alike (a child, a pauper, a cripple, a monk, the Pope, the King, the Queen, and others) towards the grave. For all of them, death is an inevitable reality. Their skeletal companions are all identical, as is the ultimate fate of the condemned. And one of the characters – the usurer – isn’t holding the hand of the skeleton. The skeleton is pulling him while he reaches into his purse to try to bribe death not to take him. A futile idea, of course.
The church was built between the 12th and 14th centuries in the southern Romanesque style, with fortifications added in the 16th century. The interior of the church is covered from floor to ceiling with remarkable frescoes painted by local artist Janez Iz Kastva in 1490. The artworks feature familiar stories from the Bible. What is particularly interesting is that the characters are all clad in attire from the late 15th century and provide a invaluable insight into the lifestyles of people in that period. The most colourful and imaginative are the scenes depicting the ‘Book of Genesis’, filled with exotic birds, beasts and plants. The ‘Journey of the Magi’ shows the three wise men journeying with an entourage of richly clad followers on horseback. Ceiling panels are painted with lovely illustrations depicting local country life at different seasons of the year. The frescoes are in pretty good condition given they date back to 1490.
The 12-minute taped commentary in four languages, including English, guides you through the frescoes and the lady selling the tickets points to the frescoes as the audio is explaining them, very interesting and informative. After that you can look around as much as you like and take as many photos as you want, as long as flash is not used.
If you are visiting the Slovenian Coast and want to see something unique then we would highly recommend a visit to this church. Another element that makes the site unique is the near lack of tourists visiting the small, out-of-the-way church. In a continent where great historical art usually attracts vast crowds, visitors can admire the fresco and contemplate its universal message in quiet solitude, just as the villagers of Hrastovlje did so many centuries ago. The admission fee is €3 for adults and €1,50 for children. The church is open daily from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00. And if you have some time to spare, the quaintly picturesque Hrastovlje village, with its traditional Istrian architecture, is also worth a stroll. For art lovers two galleries in the centre of the village are also worth perusing, the Joze Pohlen Gallery and the Victor Snoj Gallery. We also recommend the Gostilna Svab restaurant in the village for a traditional Slovenian meal. All in all, this is a small church, but it’s a worthwhile stop for those interested in art, church architecture/design, or history.
Opening hours: daily 9:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00;
Price: €3 for adults; €1,5 for children
Holy Trinity Church Pictures
View our image gallery with high-resolution photos that prove you have to visit the Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje!
The fortified Holy Trinity Church is perched on a grassy knoll above the village of Hrastovlje. (Image courtesy TIC Koper)
Next 3 photos below by Jaka Ivancic, slovenia.info!
The church is at the foot of a large hill and is surrounded by fields and vineyards.
The church was built between the 12th and 14th centuries in the southern Romanesque style, with fortifications added in 1581 in advance of the Ottomans.
And this is how magical the fortified Church of the Holy Trinity in the village of Hrastovlje looks at night.
The church is very small and rather simple in design. The major draw of the church is the astounding frescoes painted on the walls.
The frescoes cover the entire interior of the church and tell stories from the Bible.
The church itself is interesting enough in its own right, with its 16th century defence walls against the Ottoman raids, but nothing prepares you for the vividly coloured delicate frescoes inside!
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Hrastovlje, a rustic small Istrian village not far from the largest town on Slovenia's Adriatic coast, Koper, is home to one of Slovenia's most stunning medieval treasures, the 12th-century Church of the Holy Trinity, a simple Romanesque structure sheltered behind a high defensive wall. |
Holy Trinity Church in Hrastovlje near Koper on the map
Address: Hrastovlje 19a, 6275 Crni Kal, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 45.510350, 13.901200
GPS coordinates: 45° 30′ 37.26” N 13° 54′ 4.32” E
Region: Littoral
Koper or Capodistria as it is called in Italian shows two faces to the world: one is a modern, loud and busy industrial part of the city with the only commercial port in Slovenia. The other is the charming small Old Town with the lovely square of Titov Trg and late medieval and early Renaissance buildings, such as the Praetorian Palace, the Loggia Palace and the Cathedral of the Assumption built in Venetian styles. |
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Overall Rating: The main attraction in the seaside town of Koper is its well-preserved medieval city center called the Old Town. Five centuries of Venetian rule are almost impossible to ignore here, especially while strolling along the narrow streets past impressive old buildings and former palaces. |
Overall Rating: This quite sizeable town square is the first place you should head when exploring Koper. It dates back to the Venetian era and is home to several of the town's main attractions. |
Overall Rating: For any visitor to Koper, the Praetorian Palace is a must see. It is located in the centre of the town on the main Tito Square and absolutely dominates the place. |
Overall Rating: Koper's cathedral is located right in the historic city centre on the main Tito square and dates back to the second half of the 12th century when Koper acquired its own diocese. |
Overall Rating: Set on the eastern side of the Tito square in the centre of old Koper is the 54-metre-high Bell Tower. If the weather is good, amazing panoramic views of the entire Koper area and beyond can be had by climbing 204 steps to reach the viewing platform at 43 meters. |
Overall Rating: With its impressive Gothic-style lancet arches, the 15th-century Loggia building stands on the northern side of the historic Tito Square in the heart of old Koper. Its ground-floor arcade is now a café. A side door leads to the first-floor Loza gallery. |
Overall Rating: The rustic village of Hrastovlje, located in the hills above the coast, only a short 20-minute drive from Slovenia's largest coastal town Koper, is home to one of the country's most outstanding medieval treasures, the Church of the Holy Trinity. The church building itself is quite impressive, looking like a small, ancient fort, but what attracts most visitors to this little church is the famous Dance of Death fresco on the south wall. |
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Overall Rating: Skocjanski Zatok Nature Reserve is an oasis of unspoiled nature on the outskirts of Koper, Slovenia's largest coastal town. It is one of the most beautiful protected areas in the country and permanent or temporary home to several hundred animal species, including 300 species of butterflies, 300 species of beetles, 38 species of dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles, and almost 250 species of birds which can be observed from newly built bird hides and an observation tower. |
| The accommodation options in Koper can be divided into six main categories: hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, apartments, farm stays and hostels. |
Koper is the largest town on the Slovenian coast and the sixth-largest city in Slovenia. There are currently 5 hotels in the city, but the overall quality of the hotels is not that great, and at the moment there's only one hotel in Koper that we can really recommend. Find out which one and why! |
Guest houses are a traditional form of accommodation in Slovenia for holiday makers and other travellers. They are a great choice for a place to stay as they are comfortable and wallet-friendly with owners who take an interest in their guests. There are more than 10 guest houses available in the Koper area, find out which are the ones that we recommend the most. |
Opting for a bed and breakfast over other types of lodging is a great way to personalize your stay and get to know the locals. Bed and breakfasts feel like you are literally staying in someone’s house, because often you are. The advantage of a B&B is that the breakfasts are often home cooked meals that are prepared with love and attention. These meals are included in your room rate and are a great way to start your day. Find out which B&Bs in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
With all the comforts of home, apartments are a great choice for lodging during your trip to Koper. They are often more affordable and can be very comfortable places to stay. But be careful, the rates and quality vary seriously, so always do a good research before you book an apartment! |
Hostels in Koper are the go-to option for travellers and backpackers who plan to spend very little of their time in their room and most of their time exploring Koper and the Slovenian coast. They’re also a great way to meet other travellers. Unlike a hotel, hostels are more communal in nature and that includes sharing a room with strangers, although often you can get a private room if you want to pay a little more. Find out which hostels in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
In recent years, farm stays are growing among a number of travelers looking to reconnect with fresh air, local and organic foods, and a more simple and authentic lifestyle on vacation. Farm stays are a form of accommodation on a working farm. Actual accommodations can vary from a room in a farm house, to a cabin or a guest cottage. Typical rates are similar to a bed and breakfast, and like a bed and breakfast, some offer delicious home cooked meals. Some farm stays also allow guests to participate in the daily activities on the farm if they choose. |