Ribnica
A town of authentic craftsmanship stories and a forest full of inspiration
Visit the town nestled between Mala and Velika Gora, proud of its rich heritage of craftsmanship. Centuries of uninterrupted tradition and the vibrancy of craftsmanship are the pride of the area, calling for respect for manual work and reflection on sustainable living. Ribnica's old town center, especially the Ribnica square, is another unique feature, once considered one of the oldest markets in the region of Carniola. Equally significant was the castle complex, which shaped the structure of Ribnica Valley's central area, along with its church history.
Turizem Ribnica
What to see in this city?
Get to know the city
The Handicraft Center is one of Ribnica’s most recognizable cultural attractions, preserving the connection between the town’s rich handicraft heritage and its creative present. It is a space where the distinctive character of Ribnica and the story of woodenware craftsmanship are comprehensively showcased. Visitors can explore the long, uninterrupted tradition of craftsmanship.
The public institution The Handicraft Center Ribnica, which manages the center, brings together and integrates museum and gallery activities, the museum shop, handicrafts, and tourism.
For its environmental efforts, the Handicraft Center has been awarded the international environmental certification Green Key. We also have the Slovenia Green sign.
The Škrabec Homestead in Hrovača is the birthplace of Friar Stanislav Škrabec (1844–1918), one of the most important linguists of the 19th century and the father of Slovenian modern orthography. The Škrabec family lived and worked at the homestead for more than two centuries.
The Ribnica Castle was built along a medieval trade road on a plain in the middle of the Ribnica Valley. The interesting thing about the castle is that it is located in the lowlands, right next to the river Bistrica. The earliest mention of the castle goes back to a 1263 document, where it was mentioned as castra Reiuenz.
The Parish Church of St. Stephen is located in the very centre of Ribnica. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian church.
The church, which measures 50 metres in length, is one of the largest churches within the Archdiocese of Ljubljana and in Slovenia. The most important work of art inside the church is the altarpiece of St. Stephen, created by the famed Slovenian impressionist Ivan Grohar.
Miklova Hiša Gallery
Since its establishment, Miklova Hiša Gallery has developed a strong concept of gallery operation, focusing on presenting and placing contemporary artistic creativity within the regional context.
The history of Miklova Hiša, where the gallery is located, dates back to the 19th century, specifically to the year 1870, when the first Ribnica National Reading Room was founded.
