horse
Daily schedule
date
10:00
Opening of the Stud Farm
10:00
Opening of the Stud Farm
13:00
 Guided tour
16:00
Closing the stud farm
Daily schedule
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Heritage

Cultural and Natural Heritage

The Lipica Stud Farm is especially important because it is the original stud farm of one of the oldest cultural horse breeds – the Lipizzan horse – and the oldest European stud farm breeding a single breed of horse. It is also special because it is the only micro location offering optimum conditions for Lipizzan horse breeding at the highest level, and because it has an atmosphere whose individual elements – the layout, architectural core, and cultural landscape – were developed exclusively for the purpose of its original core activity – the breeding of Lipizzan horses.

“What’s special about the Lipica Stud Farm is the fact that it has an exceptional development potential in terms of ensuring the finest breeding of Lipizzan horses on a global scale.”

Its development has an outstanding importance for the international reputation of Slovenia, while the protected values of the cultural landscape and architectural heritage of the Lipica Stud Farm are permanently and exclusively in the service of its original activity – horse breeding and riding. The Republic of Slovenia is committed to acknowledging the international status of the stud farm as a horse breeding organisation holding the original studbook for the Lipizzan horse.

Natural areas that have been proposed for the status of natural values, include Lipica, its pastures and forests, the fossil site near Lipica, and the Pekel Cave.

Features having the monument protection status include the Lipiško brezno karst shaft, a deep corrosion shaft that is the result of a natural karst phenomenon, and is as much as 200 metres deep.

Protected Area

In 1996, the Lipica Stud Farm was declared a cultural monument of exceptional importance for the Republic of Slovenia. The protected area of the Lipica Stud Farm, which is under special monumental protection, encompasses the cultivated Karst landscape, the herd of horses of Lipizzan breed, and the architectural and art heritage.

In the protected area of the Lipica Park, you can walk along the centuries-old green avenues and enjoy the company of 300 white Lipizzan horses. There are also play areas for children, recreation areas, you can try delicious Karst delicacies, explore the history of four-wheeled vehicles at the Carriage Museum, and learn about unique karst phenomena – “kal” (a pond) and “ledenica” (a pit for storing ice).

NATURAL HERITAGE
Cultural Landscape of the Karst

The area of the cultural Karst landscape of the Lipica Stud Farm encompasses pastures and meadows with protective fences, and oak groves and avenues.

The man-made landscape is an integral and redesigned natural environment, whose development is based on the centuries-old tradition of breeding horses of the finest quality. People have improved the bleak Karst landscape and cultivated the land for the purpose of pasture and mowing. The present layout of Lipica is the same as it was before 1817, as is evident from the cartographic records of the time.

Even earlier than that, the estate was lined with an eight-kilometre long dry-stone wall, which is typical of the Karst. The reason for the time-consuming construction of this dry-stone wall was not merely practical, but also symbolic, because the wall symbolises the integrity and uniqueness of Lipica’s cultural landscape.

Historically, this land has always been used for the continuous breeding of the same horse breed. The spatial integrity of the original stud farm, which gave birth to one of the oldest breeds of horses, makes this place unique – even on a global scale.

ARCHITECTURE
Architectural Heritage

Specially protected built elements under monumental protection include: the Manor complex with Velbanca and a church, the stable complex with silos and dressage areas, Hotel Klub, the collection of artworks of Avgust Černigoj, which is exhibited in the gallery, and the park sculptures (forma viva) from karst stone.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Manor Complex with Velbanca

The historical core of Lipica was built on the remains of the buildings of the Bishop of Trieste’s former estate. Its key elements were the Manor and Velbanca, around the inner courtyard – the “Hof”, which was fully developed at the beginning of the 18th century. At the time, the way to Lipica from the direction of Trieste led through Hof and straight to the portal of Velbanca. On the western side, Hof is still to this day enclosed by the Manor, and on the northern side by Velbanca. In the east, Hof has bordered on commercial and residential buildings for centuries, but these have since been adapted, and now host the Lipikum – a museum dedicated to the Lipizzan horse.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
The Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua

The Lipica chapel is dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, the protector against diseases of horses and livestock. Historical sources mention the chapel in the 17th century, but it gained its present appearance in the 19th century, when the nave and the presbytery were decorated with frescoes. The chapel has a square ground plan and a cross-vaulted ceiling; the presbytery is also square. There are three stone altars inside, which are older than the façade. Today, it is used for church wedding ceremonies and holy masses.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
The “na Borjači” Stables

The complex of stables called “na Borjači” is home to the white Lipizzan mares and their dark foals. It is a mighty building with an inner courtyard where in spring, the youngest foals are caressed by sunshine for the first time in their llves. It was built in the 18th century as an active stable where horses can move around freely. The main wing is where the mares and their foals are kept. The left wing is for mares without foals, while the right wing hosts the foaling station, where all the foals in Lipica are born. The complex also includes two silos that were used for storing oats. Every day, you can admire one of the most beautiful scenes in Lipica unfolding in front of the stables – the herd going out to pasture in the morning and then returning in the afternoon.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Karst House and Italian Villa

Built in a typical Karst style, the stone cottage is where wedding celebrations in Lipica are hosted. The stud farm’s green environment provides the backdrop for unforgettable wedding ceremonies that bring the bride and the groom together on their new shared journey.
The Italian Villa was built in 1931, when Lipica was an Italian military stud farm. The Villa was home to serving officers, and a park with exotic trees was planted in front of it.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Culinary Museum

In addition to Hof, the appearance of the old Lipica core was rounded off for centuries by the chapel dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua and the neighbouring chaplaincy. The chaplaincy also contained a school for the stud farm employees’ children, until it was converted into an inn after World War II. Today, it hosts the Culinary Museum, where you can learn about the gastronomic and oenological heritage of the Karst in a fresh and interesting way.

ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE
Jubilee Stable

The Jubilee Stable is the last stable in Lipica created during the Habsburg period. Its mighty walls tell the story of the year 1899, and mark the 50th anniversary of the rule of Habsburg Emperor Francis Joseph I. It was where the young horses that were recently introduced to training were kept, which is why the stable was also called “Abrihtunga”. Even today, the left wing of the Jubilee Stable houses young horses that are just starting training. Horses for tourist rides are kept in the right wing. The two programmes that are on offer include dressage and trail riding lessons.

CULTURAL HERITAGE
Artistic Heritage
Park Sculptures from Karst Stone

On the 400th anniversary of the Lipica Stud Farm, Lipica hosted a month-long international sculpting workshop, which produced the park sculptures (forma viva) from karst stone. The second international sculpting workshop was organised to mark the 425th anniversary of the Lipica Stud Farm.

Park Sculptures from Karst Stone

On the 400th anniversary of the Lipica Stud Farm, Lipica hosted a month-long international sculpting workshop, which produced the park sculptures (forma viva) from karst stone. The second international sculpting workshop was organised to mark the 425th anniversary of the Lipica Stud Farm.

The Collection of Avgust Černigoj’s Artworks and their Staging in the Gallery

Over 120 years ago, on 24 August 1898, Avgust Černigoj was born in Trieste. He was a Constructivist and one of the leading figures of the Slovenian avant-garde in fine arts. He was an extraordinary artist, and the only Slovenian artist who studied at the famous Bauhaus School in Weimar. He spent the last years of his creative life at the Lipica Stud Farm, on the unique green estate among the white Lipizzan horses. The Lipica Stud Farm today houses more than 1,300 of his works of art.

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What to do in Lipica

Visit to the Stud Farm
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Private: Hotel Maestoso
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