Skofja Loka, Slovenia, Skofja Loka, Slovenia

The charmingly picturesque town of Skofja Loka, meaning Bishop’s Meadows, is considered to be the best-preserved medieval city in Slovenia. Located roughly halfway between Ljubljana and Lake Bled, this delightful town is certainly worth a visit.

The first written records of what was once the bustling market town of Skofja Loka date back to 1248. Although mentions of the town date as far back to 973!

Škofja Loka gained its city rights in 1274 and became an important economic centre for the region. In 1511, a devastating earthquake damaged nearly every building in town. However, the town of Škofja Loka was successfully renovated and has retained its current quaint appearance ever since.

Skofja Loka was once enclosed by stone walls and access to the town could only be made through one of its five gated towers. Although there is not much evidence of these towers today, the original town plan of Skofja Loka remains the same – there’s the Upper Square that is known as the Plac and the Lower Square, the Lontrg. Overlooking the town stands Loka Castle. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).