The Teran Circular Trail, Pepa’s gardens and the historical landmarks in the old village centre each offer a different perspective on Dutovlje. The circular route gives you a clear timeframe for planning, while the gardens, wells, church and memorial sites offer further themes to explore during your stay.
Teran Circular Trail and the Karst Landscape
The Teran Circular Trail starts in the square in front of the Bunčet Estate and passes numerous vineyards along easy forest and village paths. The circuit takes two to three hours and is rated easy. Along the way, you can enjoy views of vineyards, dry-stone walls and stone-built villages. The route thus combines a rural landscape with the characteristic building styles found along the way.
The landscape around Dutovlje also varies by direction. To the south, towards the hills of Žekenc and Volnik, there are meadows, pastures, common land and woodland. To the east, towards the village of Skopo, the landscape is shaped by pastures and woodland as well as cultivated Karst sinkholes. This gives an idea of how the surrounding area is divided into different landscape zones.
Karst Gardens, Crafts and Wine
Pepa’s gardens reflect the typical Karst landscape. Pepa’s Karst Garden combines traditional materials used in local crafts with typical Karst plants; the gardens as a whole reflect the character of the Karst landscape. In 2012, Pepa’s History Garden won a gold medal in the Artisan Gardens category at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. Together, the two gardens showcase different aspects of garden design: the combination of plants and traditional materials, and an internationally award-winning garden history.
The gardens are located on the Bunčet Estate in Dutovlje. Visits with a guide must be arranged in advance. The estate is also home to an authentic memorial room dedicated to Boris Pahor; guided visits there must also be arranged in advance. If you are interested in garden art and commemorative culture, these are two distinct themes to explore at the estate.
For an insight into winemaking, another place to visit is the Štok Wine Cellar. Visitors can taste Teran, Malvasia, Teran liqueur and other wines, as well as tour the cellar and vineyards. Tastings and visits are available by prior arrangement. This is a separate way to discover the wine, alongside the vineyard views on the Teran Circular Trail.
Village Centre and Memorial Sites
The Church of St George stands at the centre of the old village. During the Ottoman incursions, it was fortified with an enclosing wall and four towers. The former fortifications add a distinct historical dimension to the church; at the same time, the village settlement of Dutovlje is protected as part of the historic built heritage. Another tangible record of local history can be found at the village well: a Christogram and a heart bearing the year 1848 are carved into the stone. A Christogram is a symbol of Christ.
South of Dutovlje, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers’ cemetery lies in a sinkhole. It contains the graves of 1,374 Austro-Hungarian soldiers. To reach it, take the main road from Dutovlje towards Kreplje. After just over 400 metres, a farm track branches off behind the civil cemetery and leads to the nearby sinkhole. The directions clearly place the cemetery south of the village and make the turn-off a useful landmark.
Discover More Destinations
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