Theme Paths

Path to Puštal

When walking along the Path to Puštal theme path, you will be accompanied by stories which will reveal how the Puštal locals used to live. You will find out how Puštal is connected with the devil, combs, frogs, and many other things of interest.

Although Puštal is just a stone's throw from Škofja Loka, conflicts between Puštal and Škofja Loka date back to the Middle Ages. In the 13th century the Freising Bishops were deprived of the Puštal territory and it thus belonged to another dominion as a town. In addition the social status of the Puštal locals was significantly different to that of the bourgeois, as those in Puštal lived in granaries and shacks, where they made a living mainly through non-agricultural activities. One of the most widespread was combmaking, the most unusual was the hunting and sale of frogs, of which there was an abundance in Puštal. It was due to these activities that the Škofja Loka locals liked to make fun of those from Puštal and they returned the teasing with 'Loska smojka' – a local dish.

2. Firbar's House

Firbar's House (2) is located at number 8 Kopališka ulica in Karlovec. The house was named after its activity – dyeing. Jurij Pokorn began the activity of dyeing, he was a respectable man, and during the period from 1861-1866 he was even the Loka mayor. Dyeing continued in the house until 1907, and still today on its exterior proof of the trade can be seen – take a look at the upper part of the house where you will notice a 'grablje' ("a rake"), which was sometimes used for drying dyed linen.

4. The Beautiful Shrine

At the crossroads of the streets 'Kopališka ulica' and 'Fužinska ulica', on the border between the suburbs of Karlovec and Studenec, there is a beautiful shrine (4). The original shrine was wooden, and from 1826 onwards a brick shrine has stood here. In addition to the shrine there is a well, where locals used to come for water. The 'House behind the Beautiful Shrine' got its name from its close proximity to the shrine – it was also sometimes called 'Pri Znamčkarju'.

6. Bernik's House and 7. Poličar's House

On the other side of the bridge beside the path there are two well-preserved houses dating from the 18th century. The first is Bernik's House (Bernikova hiša) (6), and the other Poličar's House (Policarjeva hiša) (7). On the facade of Poličar's House look for the mark with the date 27.9.1926 – this is the level that the water reached during heavy flooding in 1926. Due to torrential storms and raging torrents the Poljana Sora and Gradaščica rivers flooded; the severe flooding also caused a number of deaths. 

9. Puštal Castle

From Nace's House return on the same path to the Devil's Footbridge and then continue towards Puštal Castle (9). The castle was first mentioned in the 13th century; the current appearance of the church has evolved since the 16th century. The Church of the Holy Cross in Puštal Castle is adorned by a fresco of Guilio Quaglio the Younger's 'Descent from the Cross' from 1706, which is among the most precious works of art in Škofja Loka. Today the castle houses a music school. As the castle is privately owned, it is not possible to see the castle courtyard.