Nova Gorica – Cross-Border Culture, Kostanjevica and Nature Trails

Trg Evrope is a cross-border square, with one half in Slovenia and the other half in Italy. The center of Trg Evrope is still marked by the famous mosaic.

Culture and the Border

At EPICenter, Kolodvorska pot 10 in Nova Gorica, the ground floor of the northern part of the building houses the permanent museum exhibition "Mesto na meji". It focuses on the cross-border area and places the personal stories of the people who live there at its center. EPIC also includes a modern conference hall with almost 200 seats, as well as Café EPIC, which offers visitors a place to relax and socialize.

In Pristava, the museum exhibition "Na šverc!" explores the history of smuggling in the Goriška area after the Second World War. It is located in the rooms of a former small border crossing. The exhibition also includes an escape room that presents the subject of smuggling in a playful way.

The Kolodvor museum collection at Nova Gorica railway station, the oldest public building in the city, offers another perspective on the history of the area. Its exhibition documents the human impact of border changes in the Goriška area.

Kostanjevica

The entire Kostanjevica complex, including the church, monastery, library and crypt, has been protected as an artistic and cultural monument since 1985 and is part of the protected cultural heritage of the Slovenian people. The Kostanjevica Franciscan Monastery in Nova Gorica was declared a cultural monument of national importance in 2024. The crypt contains the mortal remains of Charles X and five other members of the Bourbon family.

The complex also includes the Å krabec Library, which houses more than 16,500 books and contains 32 incunabula. Kostanjevica is also home to the Bourbon rose collection, one of the most complete and largest collections of old Bourbon roses in the world. Kostanjevica Monastery regularly offers expert presentations for visitors and the general public.

Nature and Trails

Rafut Park is considered a unique natural and cultural heritage site in Slovenia and Europe. It contains a large collection of exotic plants that thrive particularly well in Nova Gorica. From Nova Gorica, Rafut Park can be reached via a path for cyclists and pedestrians along the railway line.

The Panovec forest educational trail has 35 educational stations, 20 of them on the shorter route. This shorter option is also suitable for people with reduced mobility. The legally protected Italian agile frog lives in Panovec Forest, where it is known as "laška žaba".

Art and the Stage

Mestna galerija Nova Gorica is a recognized center for contemporary visual art in Slovenia. It organizes lectures on contemporary visual art practices, art workshops for children of various age groups, and public guided tours of the exhibitions. The Slovenian National Theatre Nova Gorica maintains a performance archive dating back to 1955.

Trg Evrope is also a versatile event space with lighting, a fountain and connections for events.

For further exploration, you can choose between the destination pages Lokve, Å empas, Sela Na Krasu, Bilje, Å empeter Pri Gorici, Plave, Kanal and Podsabotin.

To the main travel overview: Nova Gorica.