Introducing this place:

Where the Julian Alps descend towards the Ljubljana basin, at the foot of the Škofja Loka hills, the settlement that is today known as Škofja Loka was established more than a thousand years ago. Archaeological finds, however, testify to the presence of settlements in the Škofja Loka area from at least the 20th century BC. During the great migration of peoples, Slavic tribes settled here, and the names of the settlements bore Slavic names before the land was granted to the Bishops of Freising.

Sightseeing:

Nuns church

The Church of Mary Immaculate is situated beneath the Castle of Škofja Loka and they are connected, too. The church was built in 1358 but its Baroque image was put on after the fire in 1669. Precious tombstones and Baroque pulpit made of stone in the interior and relief of crucifiction in the exterior could be seen. Because of the 1782 reforms the Klarisa's nunnery which operated under the church complex was dissolved and taken over by the Ursula's who opened girls school in the Castle.

Stone bridge or Capuchin's bridge

It was built by bishop Leopold in the middle of the 14th century. The fate was that the same bishop riding across the fenceless bridge together with his startled horse fell from the bridge and got drowned in the water. The bridge is built from carved stone in the semicircular form. It was restored in 1888; it was equipped with iron fence and there was a statue of saint John of Nepomuk set in the middle of the fence; in the socle of this statue the seal of Škofja Loka was engraved. The bridge with its respectable age of 600 years is one of the oldest monuments of its architectural kind in the Middle Europe. In the Middle Ages there was Selca's gate with its guarding tower by the bridge.

Homan house

It is a civil manor house which is composed of three buildings. The house was restored in Gothic architectural style and some of the renaissance elements after the 1511 earthquake. The renovation is proved by the year engraved in the console balcony with stony bearded head and coat-of-arms of Kranj. Restoring the surface the frescoes of mediaeval soldier and saint Christopf as the other ornaments of the 16th century were exposed. Ivan Grohar - famous painter impressionist - who painted famous "Loka in snow" located there also enjoyed in keeping visiting the public house above confectionery.

Parish church

The church of Šentjakob (Saint Jacob) is late Gothic hall building which was built in 1471 on the basis of smaller church which was about 200 years old. It is divided in three naves by supporting octagonal columns; the naves are equally high and there's a starry arch on the top of them. Ribbed arcs are connected by several joints and there are many relieves of the patrons of the altar and of guilds. In 1532 after the earthquake there was new presbytery made and mighty bell tower constructed. There have to be mentioned some valuables like 1694 renaissance altar of Saint Catherine made of black marble, late 17th century paintings of Christ on Mount of Olives… Whole interior, the altars and chandeliers were changed under the project of architect Jože Plečnik.

School

The documents from 1271 gave evidence about the boys town school; girls school was opened by Klarisa's in the 14th century. In Škofja Loka there existed a school building at least from 1538; it was located near the church of Saint Jacob. There could be still seen built-in stony plate on the front of former school building which says that in 1627 the Lord of the castle of Stara Loka - Mihael Papler - gave the building beside the Parish church as a present.

Granary

It is one of the most respectable antiques in the town. In former shape it existed already before the earthquake in 1511. It was ordered to be completely renewed by the bishop Filip as it could be read on late Gothic renaissance modelled relief plate sealed by the bishop's seal; it is built-in on the front of the Granary. Beside the Castle the Granary was the most important building of the Landlords because in the Granary all of the natural taxes were kept. It was managed by special bishop's official - the granary-man. The Granary was then a part of the city walls. Nowadays there is permanent gallery of famous academic painter Franc Mihelič and in the basement there is good pub and wine-cellar.

Church of Špital

Former poorhouse was established in 1547 by priest Nikolaj Škofic to be settled by town poor men and cripples. The fire which destroyed all the Lontrg burnt down also the church of Špital. There is votive picture kept by the Museum of Škofja Loka telling story about that fire. The Church of Špital was renewed in 1720. The building has Gothic entrance hall door and yard's door. There is a church built in 1710 in the complex of Špital. It is simple Gothic church but very rich decorated.

Žigon's house

Residential and trade house from the 16th century with its storeyed spired balcony architectonicly concluded the main wider part of the Town square and separated it from transitional South one. Nowadays there's town administration in Žigon's house.

Mark of Mary

Baroque mark with three statues built in 1751 by the Town as gratefulness for prevention from plague and fire. Pedestal in the form of altar and the column with Ionic capital were made from conglomerate of Loka. There's a stony fountain between the trees; it was built in 1883 and made in the form of square prism with two shells and it is added by decorative pitcher and town coat-of-arms.

Old town hall

The most eminent building of the Town square is former Town hall from the 16th century. That was the place of public life in Loka representatives with the judge at the head. There are several painting and architectural elements on the building pointing out important place of this building in the history. Portal, entrance hall and door are still made in Gothic style, arcade courtyard on the other hand is already of the renaissance. Restoring the building in 1972 Baroque frescoes, pictures of columns, flowers and several other figurative details were exposed.

Old Parson's house

Pilasters and two-coloured front arguing the fact that the building was composed of two houses rebuilt during 1740 and 1760. There's a stone renaissance plate with the coat-of-arms of wealthy and powerful townsman Volbank Schwarz. It can be read from the plate that he established Benefice of Holly Trinity and in his house in 1513 built the chapel. The entrance portal is composed of stones, the hall is cross-shaped arched and the staircase is encircled by forged net of Baroque.

Martin's house

It is the type of house which prevailed in Škofja Loka and it is the last of its kind. It is known of its late Gothic portal, windows in ground floor and arched hall. It was build as an extension to the city walls which was built for security reasons in the 14th century by bishop Konrad III; the city walls are still perfectly preserved in this part. Near the house there was Poljane's gate with its guarding tower and crossing bridge from the town over defensive ditch which is still visible.

Castle of Škofja Loka

Former castle had to be constructed by the bishops of Freising already shortly after the receipt of Loka's territory. The document from 1202 described the Castle as very firm (castrum firmissimum from Lonca). The Castle was the place of administrator or chieftain and it was lodging for a bishop when he was checking his domination. The Castle was almost totally demolished in the earthquake in 1511 but it was restored by the bishop Filip. There stood once mighty square tower in the castle's courtyard which ground plan's sizes are restored. Nowadays the Castle is designed for the collections of the Museum of Škofja Loka where history, cultur, art-history, ethnology and natural science of Škofja Loka's territory could be seen.

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Geography and Climate:

The Highlands of Škofja Loka (or Loka's mountains) are tipical for the region in front of Alps in river basin of Selška Sora and Poljanska Sora which unite near the town of Škofja Loka and form the river Sora.

The Highlands of Škofja Loka (in further text "region") is extended over two valleys: Selška dolina and Poljanska dolina and all the highlands above them, depression Žirovska kotlina and field Sorško polje. The town of Škofja Loka is of special value to the region - the town at the confluence of both of the rivers Sora - the town which is also economic, cultural and administrative centre of the region.

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