3 Days on the Karst – Day 3: walk from Kobdilj to Štanjel and the Ferrari Garden

Morning: the village square in Kobdilj

The third day can begin without a car.
Step out of the gate of Vila Kobdilj and within a few steps you are already on the village square.

The square in Kobdilj is one of the most characteristic village spaces on the Karst. Around the open square stand old stone houses, many with distinctive spahnjenice — the traditional black kitchens that were once extended outward from the house to accommodate the hearth. Above them rise monumental Karst chimneys, once a symbol of pride for every household. Some of the most beautiful examples on the Karst can be found right here in Kobdilj.

At the end of the square turn right and the view opens towards Štanjel.

The walk: Fabiani’s path

A short fifteen-minute walk leads you to Štanjel along Fabiani’s path.

The path passes through a pine grove and gradually opens views across the Karst plateau. Slowly you approach the town walls and enter the settlement through the Kobdilj Tower, once part of Štanjel’s defensive system.

It is almost the perfect way to arrive — slowly and on foot, just as people have approached Štanjel for centuries.

Walking through the medieval town

Once you pass through the tower, the space changes almost imperceptibly.
The open landscape remains behind you and the streets become narrower and more intimate.

Walk through medieval streets between stone houses with green wooden shutters — locally known as škure, a characteristic feature of Karst architecture. The town is small, yet full of details: stone portals, stairways, small squares and sudden views opening between the houses.

Take time for a few stops while exploring Štanjel:

• The Karst House — a typical stone house from the Romanesque period, today arranged as a small museum presenting traditional life on the Karst.

  

• Galerija Lokal — a small gallery of contemporary craft and art.
  

• Panorama Štanjel — a perfect place for coffee with a view.

The Church of St. Daniel

The path then leads to the Church of St. Daniel, from whom the town takes its name.
The original name Šent Danijel gradually evolved into today’s Štanjel.

The church once stood behind defensive walls that protected the town during Ottoman incursions. Its bell tower, crowned with a cap resembling a bishop’s mitre, is one of Štanjel’s most recognisable landmarks.

Štanjel Castle

Above the church stands Štanjel Castle, forming the crown of the settlement.

Originally part of the defensive system, it later became the administrative and cultural centre of the town. Today the castle houses several institutions:

• The Lojze Spacal Gallery

• The Museum of the Karst

• The Museum of the Slovenian Language and Written Word

   
Allow some extra time to explore the castle, as it offers a deeper insight into the art, history and identity of the Karst landscape.

Lunch: Grad Štanjel

After exploring the town, it is time for lunch.

The Grad Štanjel restaurant offers a refined interpretation of Karst cuisine based on local ingredients. The menu is created by chef Simo Komel, who combines Karst tradition with a calm and precise contemporary approach.

Ferrari Garden

After lunch, walk through the entrance tower and turn right onto the path that leads around the hill to Ferrari Garden.

The garden was designed by architect Maks Fabiani for his nephew Enrico Ferrari. It unfolds on terraces beneath the town walls, overlooking the Branica valley.

Its quiet stone spaces, stairways, water elements and extraordinary views towards Mount Nanos and the surrounding vineyards make Ferrari Garden one of the most remarkable garden landscapes in Slovenia.

Evening: back to Kobdilj

From Ferrari Garden a short walk leads you back towards Kobdilj.

As the day slowly settles, you return to the courtyard of Vila Kobdilj.
A glass of wine before sleep, and the feeling that the day unfolded exactly as it should on the Karst: slowly, with stories and wide views.

Practical information

Total distance: approx. 3–4 km
Walking time: 45–60 minutes (without stops)
Suggested duration: half-day or full-day excursion
Best for: walking, culture, architecture, views