Dvor on the Krka – Hotels, Waterfalls and Foundry History

Dvor on the Krka can be explored through two specific themes: the river’s natural tufa barriers and the local foundry tradition. Both themes connect the landscape with the history of the place without reducing it to a single focus for a visit.

Krka and Nature

At Dvor, the Krka forms waterfalls over natural tufa barriers. The nationally significant natural feature “Dvor – lehnjakovi pragovi” on the Krka near Dvor consists of geomorphological and geological tufa barriers. The Krka at Dvor is suitable for fishing, boating and swimming. Thus, along the same stretch of river, both the geological character of the tufa barriers and the activities mentioned there are central features.

Culture and History

The Železo-livarski muzej in Dvor displays original castings from the local foundry tradition and offers a practical demonstration of casting. The Auersperg Iron Foundry in Dvor operated from 1795 to 1891. It produced artistic castings and iron elements for bridges, including parts for the famous Shoemakers’ Bridge in Ljubljana.

The restored foundry complex in Dvor is also part of this cultural context. It houses the Natura 2000 Interpretive Information Centre Natura 2000. At the Natura 2000 Interpretive Information Centre in Dvor, visitors can explore the local ecosystem of the Krka River. Thus, the complex brings together the history of iron processing and engagement with the river ecosystem.

The DLD Gallery in Dvor displays artworks from the Dvorski Art Days, an international gathering of visual artists. The Dvorski Art Days take place as a working meeting at the beginning of August and have become a tradition. Admission to the DLD Gallery is free, but advance registration is required. Guided tours of the Auersperg Iron Foundry complex are available by prior arrangement. The two facilities therefore have different visitor information: registration is required for the gallery, while tours of the foundry complex must be arranged.

Routes and Memorial Sites

Dvor can be reached from three directions. Via Dvor pri Žužemberku runs the 69-kilometre circular route “Po poti spomenikov in spominskih obeležij NOB 1941–1945”. The themed cycling and hiking route enables visitors to see 21 NOB monuments and memorials. Both the stated distance and the number of memorial sites form part of the description of this route.

Other destinations you can visit are Otočec, Šmihel Pri Žužemberku, Mali Ban, Šmarješke Toplice, Dolenjske Toplice, Mirna Peč, Žužemberk and Novo Mesto.

For Dvor, you can view and compare offers. On the respective offer pages, you can check the exact location, the type of accommodation and the occupancy. Included services, individual price components, and booking or cancellation conditions should also be visible. You can additionally check whether the occupancy matches the planned number of guests and which services are included in the respective offer. Before booking, you can also check the exact location, the individual price components, and the applicable booking and cancellation conditions once again.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Novo Mesto.