Gradac castle
The castle first mentioned in the year 1228 as Gräcz. It is situated in the village Gradac in Bela krajina. In the beginning, it was probably a stronghold against the Turks. The castle stands in a well-protected area of the river Lahinja. It has been declared a national cultural heritage landmark of Slovenia.
In the 17th century, the Gusičs had a magnificent park created along the river next to the castle. Its most remarkable feature was a tree-lined promenade with spruce and plane trees. The 19th and the 20th centuries saw another succession of owners. Among them was Franz Friedau, who built a foundry in Gradac, bringing the town into the industrial age. A wooden bridge connects the castle to the area where the foundry once stood. During World War II, the castle served as a field hospital. After the estate was nationalized by the Communist authorities, the park was neglected. In recent years, what remains of the park is registered as a protected area, a move designed to prevent its complete destruction until a permanent owner is found.
![Castle Gradac from bridge](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/00bb5d_8c4667311d50414b9204282f07a54a51~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_96,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/00bb5d_8c4667311d50414b9204282f07a54a51~mv2.jpg)
![Castle Gradac from mainroad](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/00bb5d_e6f10ba53dd04789b5b9e948e1914169~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_96,h_133,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/00bb5d_e6f10ba53dd04789b5b9e948e1914169~mv2.jpg)
![DSC_1453](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/00bb5d_44e1390044ca4ae5afabfe2121624eb0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_150,h_100,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/00bb5d_44e1390044ca4ae5afabfe2121624eb0~mv2.jpg)
![Castle Gradac from bridge](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/00bb5d_8c4667311d50414b9204282f07a54a51~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_108,h_96,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/00bb5d_8c4667311d50414b9204282f07a54a51~mv2.jpg)
Where to discover
The castle is located on the main Črnomelj-Metlika road in Gradac, a village that shares its name with the castle. The castle is easily visible from the main road through a large portion of Gradac. The best view of the castle is from the bridge over Lahinja river. Parking is available before the entrance.