The blackened interior of the foundry, with its simple blacksmiths' equipment and the sounds of hammers hitting the anvil, will be revealed during one of the available guided tours of Kropa, or by prior arrangement.
The Vigenjc Vice forge is just a five minute walk from Kropa's Plac central square on the road towards Jamnik.
The Vigenjc foundry building is partly stone and partly wooden. Inside there is preserved 19th century equipment: three blacksmiths forges, an anvil, tools, bellows, and in the stream behind the building there is a preserved, still-working water wheel.
WHAT IS VIGENJC?
Vigenjci are foundries where nails were forged in Kropa, Kamna Gorica and Kolnica. In these foundries, blacksmiths forged over 120 different types of nails. In 1479 there were eight Vigenjci in Kropa, five in Kamna Gorica and four in Kolnica. By the mid-19th century there were 19 in Kropa and 10 in Kamna Gorica. At that time there were around 50 water wheels along the 1,200 metres of the Kroparica stream that flows through Kropa.
Since the founding of the Iron Forging Museum, the Vigenjc Vice has become a musem display. For groups upon prior arrangement via the Iron Forging Museum, demonstrations of the hand forging of nails are available in Slovene, German or English.
Visits to the Vigenjc Vice foundry are also included as part of the programme for the Hop-On Hop-Off tourist bus that runs to Kropa every Tuesday in July and August.
INFORMATION
Iron Forging Museum Kropa
T: +386 (0)4 533 72 00
E: kropa@mro.si
www.mro.si
OPENING HOURS
July, August: every Tuesday from 10am – 1pm and from 3pm – 6pm.
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By prior arrangement for groups of 10 or more. |
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PRICE
A visit to the forge with an iron forging demonstration: 2 €
A visit to the forge with an iron forging demonstration + Iron Forging Museum: Adults 4 €, Children 3 €
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Every Tuesday in July & August
A beauty forged by natures' works; the cradle of ironworking; Little Venice – these are how the villages you will visit are referred to. Discover the wealthy tradition of ironworking and visit the picturesque village centres of Kropa and Kamna Gorica.
The history of iron forging particularly comes to life through numerous models which will be set in motion just for you.
One of the best preserved ironworkers houses in Kropa can be visited by prior arrangement.
A picturesque iron forging village beneath the Jelovica plateau with numerous water troughs and small bridges, which has earnt it the name 'Mini Venice'.
