Vipava valley has been on our minds for quite some time. We drove through a couple of times to usually catch a flight in Venice so we never stopped on our way. This was a special 2-day trip in the valley of luscious landscapes and vintage towns.

Burja estate

First things first. We stopped close to the entrance of the valley at Burja winery. With plenty of awards Burja has become a strong regional wine brand - maybe not just regional any more. The friendly owner Primož showed us the estate, the extensive cellars and explained their process. Wine tasting was limited as it was still quite early in the day but we managed to get a few bottles for later nonetheless.

Lože Castle

The village of Lože is a stone’s throw away from Vipava. An abandoned hilltop castle overlooks the village. A medieval court was built here in the 12th century and a mansion followed in the 17th. Lože Castle was the residence for a string of wealthy families until the Second World War. Unfortunately it is now derelict but still a stop worth making.

Zemono

A beautiful hilltop mansion with a Michelin star restaurant. We wanted to go for a cup of coffee but they were preparing for a wedding. We had a quick look around their well-kept estate.

Ajdovščina

Ajdovščina is a small town worth a short stop. The Romans left their mark here with the fortress of Castra, remains of which are still visible today. Or main stop however was Faladur, a wine shop and bistro, where we had our lunch and a glass of local wine.

Vipavski križ

Vipavski Križ is a hilltop settlement, clustered inside a defensive wall and a 15th century castle, which was built to protect the residents against Ottoman raids.

We found a perfect Airbnb, a renovated old house, cutting a small street in two. I really enjoyed the town’s calm atmosphere, quaint houses and friendly cats.

Majerija

Definitely another highlight. We had an amazing dinner at Majerija. The food and service might only be surpassed by their breathtaking estate. We learned a thing or two about wine in their cellar as well.

Hubelj River spring
& Ironworks

Hubelj river spring can be quite spectacular after heavy rainfall. It was modest but still beautiful this time around. The river nursed the growth of a successful ironworks industry which was in operation from 16th up to the early 20th century.

Sinji vrh &
Otlica Natural Window

This was a slightly more active part of our trip. We passed through Ajdovščina, ascended Col and drove to Sinji vrh. This easy peak offers some nice views of the Vipava valley, the Karst Plateau and the Adriatic Sea.

We then continued driving to Otlica village where we started our short hike to Otlica natural window.

VIPAVA

In desperate need of nourishment we descended to Vipava for lunch. Gostilna Krhne treated us well. We also checked out the numerous sources of the Vipava River and planned to climb the ruins of Stari grad castle above the town but decided to leave something for next time.