The setting of the lovely village of Kropa is special in itself, but the main motivation to go there is definitely the unique iron forging museum. Kropa is a settlement with several hundred years of iron working and blacksmithing tradition. It’s one of the most important Slovenian historic places because of its preserved architecture and technical heritage. It has been protected as a cultural monument since the year 1953. The museum itself is situated in the central part of the old square in Klinar’s house. It was opened in 1952 as the first technical museum in Slovenia. This very interesting museum demonstrates the entire iron working process: from iron ore to a spike. It offers guided tours, curator-led tour and presentation of traditional nail-making techniques in an old nail shop, practical classes by prior arrangement, use of library, historic records and photo collection for study purposes, screening of videos about blacksmiths. Parts of the exhibition are translated into English and German.
Opening hours:
January and February: from Tuesday to Friday between 8.00 and 15.00
March, April, November and December: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 8.00 and 15.00, on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10.00 and 12.00 and between 15.00 and 17.00.
From May till October: from Tuesday to Sunday between 10.00 and 18.00.
Entrance fee is €3. Combined tickets for the Iron Forging Museum and Vice Forge cost €4.
The Iron Forging Museum is located in the village of Kropa, the cradle of Slovene iron forging. The central building is the Klinar’s house which houses the iron forging museum. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Some of the hand forged products in the Iron Forging Museum in Kropa. (Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
A collection of nails. (Image by Miran Kambič / CC BY-ND 2.5)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
More hand forged products. (Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hand forged iron stamp. (Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Vice Spike-Forge
While in Kropa, you can also visit the Vice spike-forge, which is situated on the left bank of the Kroparica Stream, only a five-minute walk from the main square in Kropa in the direction of Jamnik. A forge is a building constructed from rock and wood, where the iron forgers of Kropa used to manufacture over 120 different types of spikes. Today, the Vice spike-forge is a museum. Upon prior request at the Iron Forging Museum, guided visits in Slovene, German or English, with manual spike production demonstration, can be arranged for organised groups. A visit to the forge with an iron forging demonstration costs €2. Combined tickets for the Iron Forging Museum and Vice Forge are also available and cost €4.
(photo: Radovljica Tourist Information Centre)
(photo: Radovljica Tourist Information Centre)
(photo: Radovljica Tourist Information Centre)
Kropa is the cradle of Slovene iron forging. It’s a small village but a pleasant place for a stroll and to see some of the ironworks on the buildings and some beautiful hand forged iron fence around courtyards. The history breaths from every corner of this wonderful little town and tells the stories from the past.
Hand forged signboard with the name of the town. (Image by Lorenzo Magnis / CC BY-ND 2.0)
(Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
(Image by Lorenzo Magnis / CC BY-ND 2.0)
Reservoir and remains of the Lower Ironworks from the 16th century. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)
(Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Hand forged grey decorative iron fence. (Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hand forged street lamp. (Image by Aaron Wolf / CC BY-SA 2.0)
Bridge across the Kroparica river in the center of Kropa. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Kropa iron forgers at work monument. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-ND 2.5)
Remains of a historic iron furnace from the 14th century at the locality Dno of Kropa. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)
View at the Plac and the center of Kropa. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Kropa. (Image by Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Kropa. (Image by Vidar Karlsen / CC BY 2.0)
Kropa signboard. (Image by Doremo / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Location:
Kropa Iron Forging Museum Address: Kropa 10, 4245 Kropa, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 46.29004, 14.20370
GPS coordinates: 46° 17′ 24.2376” N 14° 12′ 13.3452” E
Traditional region: Upper Carniola (Slovene: Gorenjska)
Municipality: Kropa
Directions from Apartments Fine Stay to the Iron Forging Museum in Kropa (drive 20 km, 22 mins)
Directions from Apartments Fine Stay Bled to the Iron Forging Museum in Kropa (drive 16 km, 20 mins)
