The Castle History
The castle’s history dates back to 1082, built on the ruins of a Roman fort. It faced attacks in 1469 and 1471. In 1520, it returned to the Semenich family until the early 17th century. A fire in 1555 destroyed most of the castle, except the 14th-century chapel. Ownership was uncertain in the late 16th and 17th centuries. By the 18th century, Vinica was abandoned, then owned by the Guzik family. It changed hands several times, suffering fires in 1874 and 1878. In 1925, Frank Michelik acquired it, and his descendants have owned it since.
Vinica is rich in prehistoric sites. Early 20th-century excavations uncovered a collection of 20,000 items, later auctioned in New York in 1934. The unique Vinica coat of arms, created by Janez Valvasor in 1687, features a golden griffin symbolizing courage and a bunch of grapes representing the castle’s main owners.
Coat of Arms
From 2014-2015, we undertook state-of-the-art restoration. The central mansion and parts of the fortress walls were all that remained. Now, the castle has been fully restored and is ready to be enjoyed.