Od romanike do danes
Ribniški grad naj bi bil postavljen v začetku 12. stoletja. Pozidali so ga njegovi prvi lastniki Turjačani. Nahaja se v samem središču Ribnice, in sicer ob reki Bistrici.
Ribniški grad je bil zgrajen ob srednjeveški trgovski cesti, ki še danes povezuje Ribnico in Ljubljano. Gradovi so bili zaradi varnosti večinoma grajeni na vzpetinah. Prav zaradi tega ima ribniški grad posebno in nenavadno lego, saj leži na ravnini. Pred požigom v 2. svetovni vojni je spadal med najpomembnejše gradove nekdanje dežele Kranjske, bil je tudi eden izmed redkih vodnih gradov v Sloveniji, saj se nahaja v nižini in je obkrožen z vodnimi jarki.
Grajsko jedro je bilo prvotno dvonadstropno in zasnovano na nepravilni peterokotni ploskvi. Zaradi ravninske lege so bili obodni zidovi precej debeli. Merili so preko dveh metrov. Segali so do višine zaključka prvega nadstropja. Pri gradnji so uporabljali pretežno kamen, apnenec in beton. V času turških vpadov so grad obdali s protiturškim obzidjem, vogale so utrdili z oglatimi stolpi, okoli novega vhoda so uredili širok vodni jarek in ga povezali z reko Bistrico. Kasneje so grad obnovili v poznorenesančnem oziroma baročnem slogu. Na mestu obrambnih stolpov so nastale stanovanjske stavbe in gospodarsko poslopje. Izsušili so obrambni jarek in uredili grajski vrt, manjša okna so nadomestili z večjimi. Grad so krasili številni banjasti oboki, stolpaste arkade, povečano je bilo tudi grajsko jedro. Leta 1810 je grad prišel v posest rodbine Rudež. V teh časih je dobil klasicistično podobo.
Leta 1944 je bil požgan. Prenovljen je bil delno. Načrt za obnovo je izdelal Ciril Tavčar. Obnovili so grajska stolpa ter ju povezali z novim hodnikom, grajsko jedro so podrli.
Gradovi so bili pomembni ne le v srednjem veku, temveč tudi v novem veku, saj so bili vojaško, obrambno, upravno in gospodarsko središče, bili so tudi simbol oblasti, moči in vpliva svojih lastnikov, ki so tudi bivali v gradu. Zelo velik pečat so pustili na kulturnem in umetnostnem področju, saj so bili predhodniki današnjih muzejev in galerij. Njihovi lastniki pa so bili pogosto naročniki umetniških del in pobudniki mnogih novogradenj.
Danes se v ribniškem gradu nahaja stalna razstava Muzeja Ribnica. Postavljena je posebna razstava z naslovom Boj krvavi zoper čarovniško zalego, ki je namenjena čarovništvu na Slovenskem, saj so prav v Ribnici zažgali zadnjo domnevno čarovnico Marino Češarek, ki je bila leta 1701 obtožena čarovništva. Ogledate si lahko replike mučilnih naprav, kot je na primer čarovniški stol. Za lažje razumevanje zgodbe Marine Češarek je na voljo tudi zvočna podlaga. Na mestu nekdanjega grajskega jedra se nahaja Park kulturnikov, kjer so iz kamna izklesane podobe kulturnikov, ki so bili pomembni za razvoj Ribnice, ob parku stoji spomenik padlim iz okoliških vasi.
Ribniški grad ima za Ribnico velik pomen. Pod grajskim hodnikom se nahaja letno gledališče. Tam potekajo različne prireditve, kot na primer Grajski večeri, s katerimi se Ribničani zabavamo in družimo. Na mestu nekdanje kavarne pa se danes nahaja poročna dvorana.
Viri in literatura:
SAPAČ, Igor. (2018). Arhitekturna zgodovina gradu Ribnica na Dolenjskem. V: Kronika. Let. 66, št. 3. Str. 377– 434
JAKIČ, Ivan. (2001). Sto gradov na Slovenskem. Ljubljana: Prešernova družba.
GRADIŠNIK, Marina. (2010). Utrinki iz zgodovine ribniškega gradu. Ribnica. [Online].
[Citirano 9. december 2020]. Dostopno na spletni strani: https://www.rokodelskicenter-ribnica.si/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/katalog_ribniski_grad.pdf
Besedilo: Maruša Ilc 2. b
Fotografije: Maruša Ilc 2. b
Strokovni pregled: Marjana Dolšina Delač
Jezikovni pregled: Nina Papež
April 2021
CASTLE RIBNICA
From the Romanesque period to the present
The Castle Ribnica was built in early 12th century. It was built by its first owners, “the Counts of Turjak.” It is located in the center of Ribnica, next to the river Bistrica.
The castle Ribnica was built along the medieval trade route, which still connects Ribnica and Ljubljana. Castles were largely built on slopes to ensure safety. Because of that, the castle Ribnica has a special and unusual position, since it is located in the flatlands. Before the arson in World War II, the castle was one of the most important castles of the former land Carniola. It was one of the few water castles in Slovenia, because it is located in the flatlands, and it is surrounded by water ditches.
The castle core was originally a two-storey building and based on the incorrect pentagonal surface. The outer walls were over 2 metres thick because of the flatland position. They reached to the top of the first floor. During construction mainly rocks, limestone and concrete were used. During the Turkish invasions the castle was enclosed by walls for protection against the Turks, the corners were fortified with angular towers, around the new entrance a water ditch was arranged, which was connected to the river Bistrica. The castle was later restored in late Renaissance style, which is known as Baroque style. In place of the defensive towers residential buildings and outbuilding were built. The defensive ditch was drained, the castle garden was arranged and small windows were replaced with larger. The castle was decorated with bath-shaped arches, towery arcades, the castle core was enlarged. In 1810 the castle came into possession of the family Rudež. In those times it was given a classicistic image.
The castle was burned in 1944. It was only partially renovated. The plan for renovation was made by Ciril Tavčar. The castle towers were renovated and connected with a new hallway, the castle core was demolished.
Castles were not only important in the Middle Ages, but also in the New Age, because they represented military, defense, administrative and economic centers. They also represented built symbols of their owners, who lived in them. They left a big mark in culture and art, because they were predecessors of today`s museums and galleries.
Today a museum is located in the Castle Ribnica, where the exhibition with the title “Boj krvavi zoper čarovniško zalego” (Bloody fight against the witch brood) is set up. It presents witchcraft in Slovenia, because the last witch Marina Češarek, who was accused of witchcraft in Slovenia, was burned in Ribnica in 1701. There is an exhibition of replicas of torture devices, such as the witch chair. To make the story of Marina Češarek easier to understand a soundtrack is available. A park called “Park kulturnikov” (Park of cultural workers) is located at the site of the former castle core, where images of cultural workers are carved out of stone. The cultural workers were important for the development of Ribnica. Next to the park the monument to the fallen soldiers from surrounding villages is located. Under the castle hallway a seasonal theater is located, where performances take place. In the site of the former café there is now a wedding hall.
Maruša Ilc
Sources and literature:
SAPAČ, Igor. (2018). Arhitekturna zgodovina gradu Ribnica na Dolenjskem. In Kronika. Year 66, nb. 3. pp. 377– 434
JAKIČ, Ivan. (2001) Sto gradov na Slovenskem. Ljubljana: Prešernova družba.
GRADIŠNIK, Marina. (2010). Utrinki iz zgodovine ribniškega gradu. Ribnica. [Online].
[Cited 9 December 2020]. Available at: https://www.rokodelskicenter-ribnica.si/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/katalog_ribniski_grad.pdf
Picture sources:
Picture 1: available at: https://www.wikiwand.com/sl/Grad_Ribnica
Pictures 2 in 3: personal archive