Project Description
ROOM 1
SKAZ’S LOCAL EXHIBITION
The exhibition is a journey through the creation of modern Šmarje pri Jelšah, largely due to the great landowner, national awakener, and patriot, Franc Skaza. He financially and organisationally supported the implementation of numerous projects that took place in Šmarje and its surroundings in the 1870s and 1880s and were important for Slovene identity. He gathered sympathisers who were committed to the promotion of the Slovene language around him. His house became a meeting place for patriots. He had the important people he looked up to depicted on the porch of his house.
Shops and taverns
In the second half of the 19th century, Šmarje pri Jelšah was home to several important merchants and innkeepers whose presence influenced the shaping and progress of the town. As in other towns and squares in Slovenia, merchants and innkeepers in Šmarje often occupied important positions in the municipal representatives, worked in associations, and even became mayors. In addition to Skaz’s tavern and Karel Jagodič’s tavern, Šmarje had several taverns and shops, which are presented in the album.
Emperor Franz Joseph I Memorial
Emperor Franz Joseph I visited Šmarje pri Jelšah for the first time on 11 July 1883. When he saw the Šmarje valley, he said: “Look at this paradisiacal beauty, there are few like it in my empire!
To commemorate the emperor’s visit and the 40th anniversary of his reign, Šmarje citizens unveiled a monument to the emperor in front of the Kartin House in Šmarje on 19 November 1891. On the 50th anniversary of his reign, on 10 September 1898, the youth of the Šmarje school, under the leadership of the superintendent, Franc Jurkovič, decorated the emperor’s monument with wreaths, as shown in this photo from the school chronicle of the Šmarje Folk School. The monument adorned Šmarje Square until the end of the First World War.
Šmarje Cultural Centre
In the 1860s, various societies began to emerge on Slovenian soil, which focused their activities on the unification and equality of the Slovene nation and the recognition of the Slovene language, which had a significant impact on the development of the cultural and political life of the Slovenes. The Karel Jagodič tavern, which also had a larger hall for events, was a central meeting place and cultural event for the people of Šmarje. The first Slovenian association in Šmarje, the progressive political association Forward, was founded in Jagodič’s tavern. The initiator and president of the association was Dr Josip Vošnjak. At the first general assembly on 27 November 1870, the father of the Slovenian camps, the Slovenian politician Dr Valentin Zarnik, visited Šmarje. On this important occasion, around 1000 people gathered in the hall of the Jagodič tavern for a feast with a brass band, choir singing, and a raffle.
Imperial Royal Court
The construction of grand public buildings for administrative purposes in the 19th century influenced the importance of towns and squares, as their rich exteriors emphasised their representative role in the locality. From 1855, Franz Skaza had been working to build a court palace in Šmarje pri Jelšah to provide new premises for the Imperial Royal District Office, which had until then been in the Jelšingrad Manor, and the Tax Office. He planned to build a new two-storey high building on his estate at his own expense. After several years of efforts to obtain building consents, he slightly modified the original plan and added another storey to the building to provide premises for the operation of his post office. Until 1850, the Jelšingrad Manor was the seat of the Jelšovec Conscription District and the Jelšovec Regional Court. In 1849, the Šmarje pri Jelšah District Court was established, which operated under the jurisdiction of the District Court in Celje. With the construction of a new court palace in 1869, the Šmarje pri Jelšah District Court was given new premises. In addition to the district court and the post office, the building also housed the armoury and the district tax office. The post office was owned by Franz Skaza, who was the central royal postmaster. At a time when women were not yet in positions of power, he appointed his wife, Ana Skaza, as postmaster. The Court Palace retained its administrative role until World War II. The building is now known to the citizens of Šmarje pri Jelšah as the Gymnasium and the Old School, as it was used for lower secondary school classes after World War II and for upper primary school classes from 1958. After the earthquake in 1974, the school activities were withdrawn from the premises, and the building was used for various social activities and local associations. In 2023, the building was brought to life as a modern physiotherapy, patronage service, and health promotion centre.
Šmarje becomes a market
The members of the Municipal Committee of the Municipality of Šmarje pri Jelšah, with Mayor Anton Nagy, unanimously decided at a meeting on 18 May 1870 to obtain permission to upgrade Šmarje to the category of market. The market rights were granted to Šmarje pri Jelšah by a special charter, which unfortunately has not been preserved. However, the Styrian Regional Archives in Graz hold documents which show that on 25 February 1871, Emperor Franz Joseph authorised the upgrading of Šmarje in the political district of Celje to the status of a market town. The decision, which came into force on 1 March 1871, gave Šmarje pri Jelšah special administrative functions, which it has retained to this day.
In 1870, Šmarje pri Jelšah was the seat of the judicial and administrative offices of the Imperial-King for the entire Šmarje district. At that time, Šmarje had 55 dwelling houses, a deanery with three priests, a parish church and a branch church, and 363 inhabitants. 450 schoolchildren attended school, taught by two teachers, and Šmarje also had a Doctor of Medicine, a ranchman and a stock-doctor, as well as several taverns, shops and craftsmen’s workshops. The photo shows the square of Šmarje pri Jelšah in 1904: on the left the Wagner shop, in front of the church the chaplaincy, behind the Kartin house, which housed the reading room, on the right the Jagodič guesthouse, in the centre the well built in 1821, which supplied the Šmarje inhabitants with water until the construction of the aqueduct in 1935.
Room 2
Šmarje pri Jelšah around 1870
The house of the Skaza family on the front right of the photo is before the renovation, the house on the left side of the road is the property of the Stupica family, at the end of the photo is the Jelšingrad mansion, in front of it is the court palace with the prisons, in front of it, the Detiček’s tavern and the Skaza family outbuildings.
Franc Skaza 1838-1892 merits of a patron and patriot
With the construction of the Royal Palace of Justice in 1869, which Franc Skaza personally advocated, Šmarje became the seat of the district court, the tax office, the post office, and the armoury, which allowed it to be upgraded to the category of a market in 1871. Thanks to Skaza’s efforts, Šmarje also received a new school building in 1878, where the Slovene language was taught, a national reading room in 1883, and many Slovene associations. Under the influence of Skála and his freethinking followers, the ‘progressive Šmarjeans’, Šmarje experienced significant social and political development in the second half of the 19th century and became the administrative centre of the entire district.
The Skaza family – Family tree
Georg Skaza and his wife Anna, b. Grindner bought an estate with a tavern in Šmarje pri Jelšah around 1800. Its location on the important Celje- Šmarje-Rogatec regional road meant that the inn made a large profit. They had two children – Franc Jakob (who inherited the inn and the estate from his father) and Jožefa Anna (who married the innkeeper Anton Jagodič in 1830). In 1823, Georg became a widower and moved to Bobovo, where he spent the last years of his life. Franc Jakob Skaza ran the inn together with his wife Johanna, born in Bobov. He married her in 1832. Three children were born to them – Joseph, Maria Johanna, and Franz de Paula. At a time of great revolutionary change, the nationally conscious Franz Jakob Skaza became extremely politically active.
In 1845, he took on the position of school inspector at the Šmarje public school. In the first municipal elections in 1850, he was elected as the first mayor of the municipality in the judicial district of Jelšovec. Franc Skaza was born on 11 February 1838 in Šmarje pri Jelšah and passed away on 21 July 1892. In 1863, he married Anna (née Ratej), the only child of a wealthy landowner from Predenca near Šmarje. She brought a substantial dowry into the marriage and later inherited her father’s estate. With extensive land holdings and numerous properties, the Skaza family became a powerful landowning dynasty.
Franc and Anna had five children: Ana, Franc, Sofija (her father’s favourite, who married teacher Franc Ferlin in 1891), Bogomir (who became a doctor, initially practising in Planina pri Sevnici and later in Ruše; he was also a talented musician), and Aleksander.
Anton Martin Slomšek (1800–1862)
The first Slovenian bishop, writer, poet, and educator, born in Ponikva. He taught theology students the Slovenian language, emphasised the importance of the mother tongue, and advocated for Slovenian-language education in rural schools. He introduced Sunday schools and worked towards the establishment of Slovenian-language instruction. He was a great inspiration to Skaza.
Josip Juraj Strossmayer (1815–1905)
A Croatian bishop, patron, and politician. He promoted cultural and political unity among Slavic nations and was the leader of the Croatian National Party between 1860 and 1873. As a politician and church dignitary, he also supported the national rights of Slovenians. He regularly spent his holidays in Rogaška Slatina.
Anton Tomšič (1842–1871)
A political organiser and editor of the newspaper Slovenski narod in Maribor from 1867 until 1871. Professionally, a lawyer, he found far greater joy in his work as an editor. He associated with Josip Jurčič, Fran Levstik, and Dr Josip Vošnjak, and occasionally visited his friend Franc Skaza in Šmarje, where the foundations were laid for the establishment of the first Slovenian printing house in Maribor.
Dr Valentin Zarnik (1837–1888)
A lawyer, politician, and writer. He is considered part of the liberal group of Mladoslovenci (Young Slovenians), who sought to awaken national consciousness and secure rights for the people and the Slovenian language. He was a key organiser of Slovenian political gatherings (tabori), in which Franc Skaza also took part. Zarnik frequently visited Šmarje for political meetings, where his speeches inspired local national awareness.
Dr Josip Vošnjak (1834–1911)
A politician, physician, and writer. He supported the idea of a United Slovenia and played an active role in organising tabori. As a parliamentary representative, he advocated for improvements in education, universal suffrage, the promotion of the Slovenian language, and the development of public health. In 1870, he was appointed district physician in Šmarje, became head of the district council, founded the progressive political association Naprej, and worked to establish a Savings and Loan Bank. He actively supported Franc Skaza in promoting the social and political progress of Šmarje and its people.
Ignacij Orožen (1819–1900)
A historian and priest. In addition to his clerical duties, he devoted most of his free time to historical research. In 1854, he published the Celje Chronicle, followed by an eight-volume History of the Lavantine Diocese, which details the history of nearly all deaneries within the diocese. After 1865, he spent some time in Rogaška Slatina, and during this period, he likely visited Franc Skaza in Šmarje on occasion.
ROOM 3
Savings and Loan Association
In 1871, Dr Josip Vošnjak and Franc Skaza drafted regulations for the establishment of a district Savings and Loan Association in Šmarje. However, the government did not approve them, as it opposed the founding of Slovenian-run financial institutions. The Savings and Loan Association in Šmarje was not officially established until 1892. Renowned patriot and lawyer Dr Franc Jurtela, who was elected mayor of the market town of Šmarje in 1900, immediately used his extensive experience and knowledge to support the initiative. All the most prominent and influential figures from the entire district joined as founding members. This new institution saved many locals from losing their assets by providing favourable credit terms and safe options for saving and storing money. The greatest benefactor among the founders was Dr Hugo Kartin, who offered the association free premises in his home from the start, and after he died in 1895, bequeathed the house to the association. After Dr Franc Jurtela left Šmarje in 1897, the running of the Savings and Loan Association was taken over by lawyer Dr Josip Georg.
Dr Josip Georg (1862–1920) – Lawyer
He came from a respected landowning family in the town of Makole. After completing his law studies in Graz, he worked as a legal trainee in Kozje, Celje, and Ljubljana between 1888 and 1895. He undertook judicial practice at the provincial court in Graz and obtained his doctorate in law in 1892.
He successfully passed the bar exam in 1897 and, the same year, after Dr Jurtela’s departure, took up the position of lawyer in Šmarje pri Jelšah. He settled in the house of Franc Skaza, which he purchased from its then-owners in 1900.
The people of the Šmarje district elected Georg as head of the district council, and he also succeeded Jurtela as the head of the local Savings and Loan Association. He faithfully carried out his legal work and led the association in Šmarje until his death.
Dr Franc Jurtela (1853–1926) – Lawyer and Politician
He was born in Ptuj, where, even before arriving in Šmarje in 1891, he was actively involved in the emerging national movement and served as president of the Ptuj Reading Society in 1886. In Ptuj, he also founded a Savings and Loan Society and the winegrowers’ association Vinario. In Šmarje, he practised law and was soon elected head of the district council. In 1892, he established the Šmarje Savings and Loan Association, which he led until his return to Ptuj in 1897. In 1906, he became a member of the Provincial Assembly, where he represented rural interests and was elected to the agrarian electoral body. At the beginning of the 20th century, he served for fifteen years as Deputy Provincial Governor.
National Reading Room
The beginnings of public libraries in Šmarje pri Jelšah date back to 1871 when the political society Naprej established a club library at the initiative of Dr. Josip Vošnjak. In the autumn of 1883, Anton Aškerc, a priest and poet, arrived in Šmarje as chaplain. He strongly advocated for the freedom of the Slovenian nation and the promotion of the Slovenian language, and immediately became involved in the town’s cultural life.
Aškerc encouraged Skaza and Jurkovič, who also led the district school and teachers’ library, to propose the creation of a reading room in Šmarje. Dr. Hugo Kartin offered space in his house for the National Reading Room, which later also housed a savings and loan association. The reading room sparked a significant cultural renaissance in Šmarje, where locals gathered to read books and newspapers and organized evenings with recitations, speeches, and debates. Larger events, such as dances and singing, were held at the Jagodič tavern, where amateur theatre activities also developed.
Dr. Hugo Kartin (1866–1895) – Law Clerk
Born on October 9, 1866, in Šmarje pri Jelšah, Dr. Hugo Kartin’s father was a respected merchant. Hugo lost his parents at an early age and, after attending primary school in his hometown, continued his education at the gymnasium in Celje and studied law in Graz. A highly intelligent young man, Kartin was passionate about patriotism and became involved with the Triglav academic society in Graz, which gained the greatest recognition during his involvement.
Kartin was also an initiator of the publication of the Križevački Statutes, issued in 1890 by the well-known Šmarje doctor, Dr. Jožef Rakež. He spent his vacations in Šmarje, always following the political developments of the area. In 1893, he received his law doctorate and began working at Dr. Franc Jurtela’s law office in Šmarje. Jurtela advised him to complete his apprenticeship with Dr. Valentin Krisper in Ljubljana, where Kartin moved in 1894. Unfortunately, he soon fell ill and passed away on May 10, 1895.
Kartin was deeply admired in his hometown. His house, which housed both the savings and loan association and the Šmarje reading room, was bequeathed to the savings and loan association, which, in gratitude, installed a memorial plaque in his honor.
Anton Aškerc (1856–1912) – Poet and Priest
Anton Aškerc served as chaplain in Šmarje from 1883 to 1889, marking the longest period of his priestly service. He advocated for the freedom of the Slovenian nation and the establishment of the Slovenian language, and quickly became involved in Šmarje’s cultural life. He joined the group of Šmarje patriots, including landowner Franc Skaza, teacher and mayor Franc Ferlinc, and senior teacher Franc Jurkovič, who regularly met at Skaza’s home to discuss national issues.
Aškerc’s time in Šmarje represented significant cultural progress for the town. He helped Skaza and Jurkovič establish the National Reading Room in 1883. His influence inspired Šmarje’s people to engage in amateur theatre, singing, and music. Aškerc was also a key figure in the introduction of Slovenian-language instruction in Šmarje’s public school in 1887. During his stay, he composed most of the poems from his collection Balade in romance, especially the cycle Stara pravda, inspired by a fresco depicting a battle scene on the ceiling of the ceremonial hall in Jelšingrad Manor.
Education in Šmarje
The First School in Šmarje pri Jelšah
Education in Šmarje pri Jelšah is first mentioned in 1783, when both Šmarje’s chaplains, Jožef Damiami and Štefan Reich, passed their pedagogical exams at the Celje main school. While there is no surviving school chronicle from this period, this evidence suggests that there was either a private parish school or at least a Sunday school operating in Šmarje at the time. The first entries in the surviving school chronicle of the Šmarje public school began in 1873, written by teacher Franc Jurkovič. He transcribed details from older school records, which extended “back to the year 1845” but unfortunately have not been preserved, including information about the first teachers in Šmarje. When a new parsonage was built in 1797, the old building became the first school in Šmarje.
Franc Jurkovič (1850–1921) – Teacher and Senior Teacher at the Public School in Šmarje from 1873 to 1921
In 1880, Franc Jurkovič took the position of senior teacher at the Šmarje public school. He introduced all the required subjects into the curriculum and planted a school garden with a beehive and a nursery. Throughout his teaching career, he created educational tools used in natural science subjects. For his work, he was awarded top prizes at three exhibitions in Graz.
In 1883, he introduced an agricultural improvement course, where older students learned about land cultivation, fruit growing, animal husbandry, agricultural bookkeeping, and relevant agricultural laws. He also led the school choir and the adult mixed choir, which was renowned throughout the region. A talented organist, he also composed music on occasion. In 1905, he prepared a musical edition titled Veselje angelsko for a children’s hymnbook with religious songs Prijatelj otroški by Josip Somrek.
For his remarkable contributions to education, Jurkovič received numerous commendations, diplomas, recognitions, and honors. He wrote articles for Slovenian political journals and authored several pieces for Končnik’s Readers. A progressive, educated, and highly knowledgeable teacher, Jurkovič left a rich educational legacy in Šmarje, influencing the social and cultural development of the town. He was also a photographer, and the first photographs of Šmarje and its inhabitants were taken through his lens.
Public School in Šmarje pri Jelšah
Franc Skaza, a devoted patriot, was an advocate for the education of the Slovenian peasant population. Šmarje needed a new, larger school. In 1877, the construction of a new school building with five classrooms and accommodation for senior teacher Franc Jurkovič began. Skaza donated the land for the school and financed much of the construction. Jurkovič contributed 3,300 goldinar for the housing, and the total investment amounted to 25,000 goldinar. Other contributions came from local members of the district school council, Janez Anderluh and Franc Lorger. The new school, with four classrooms, began operations in November 1878. For the introduction of Slovenian-language instruction in the public school in Šmarje pri Jelšah, which started on April 18, 1887, Franc Skaza and chaplain Anton Aškerc, along with Jurkovič, were the most committed advocates.
The National Printing House of Franc Skaza and Partners – The First Slovenian Printing Press in Maribor
The newly established Slovenian printing house began operating on 18 July 1871 and took ownership of the newspaper Slovenski narod. Alongside Franc Skaza, the ownership was shared by Hugo Tančič and Franc Rapoc, while Josip Jurčič became the newspaper’s chief editor. The printing house was located at Koroška cesta No. 229 in Maribor, and its equipment included one large and one smaller printing press, along with 12 to 14 typesetting racks. It was outfitted with the most modern typefaces and the latest manual and rotary presses of the time.
At the time of its founding, the printing house was valued at 12,400 gulden. By acquiring ownership of Slovenski narod, Franc Skaza ensured the continued publication of this important Slovenian political newspaper. Published three times a week, the newspaper soon aspired to become a daily. In pursuit of this goal, editor Josip Jurčič advocated for the establishment of the National Printing House in Ljubljana. Together with Franc Rapoc, he secured many shareholders from across the Slovenian territory. In 1872, the Maribor printing house was transferred to the newly formed joint-stock company in Ljubljana.
Volunteer Fire Brigade
In 1880, the first volunteer fire brigade was founded in Šmarje pri Jelšah. Still under German influence, it was named Freiwillige Feuerwehr St. Marein bei Erlachstein. Its founder and first commander was Leopold Fieglmüller, owner of Žusem Castle and the then mayor of Šmarje. The development and operation of the fire brigade were supported by prominent local landowners, innkeepers, and merchants.
The Šmarje fire brigade operated under German command until 1900, when the newly elected mayor, lawyer Dr Franc Jurtela, proposed switching to Slovene command at an extraordinary general assembly. However, the proposal was rejected by the firefighters, resulting in the brigade ceasing its operations. From then on, professional (paid) firefighters served the municipality of Šmarje pri Jelšah.
In 1905, with the election of Franc Ferlinc as mayor, the fire brigade was re-established under Slovenian leadership. The first fire station was a wooden shed that housed an old hand-operated fire pump. In 1908, a new fire station with a tower was built.
Franc Ferlinc (1865–1927) – Teacher and Mayor, Founder of the Slovenian Fire Brigade in Šmarje in 1905
After the loss of both parents, Franc Ferlinc inherited the family estate in Šmarje at a young age. He trained to be a teacher and spent his early years working in Ptuj, before taking a position at the Šmarje public school in 1885. Upon returning to Šmarje, he joined a group of committed locals who were united in the national struggle against German influence. He befriended the chaplain Anton Aškerc and was inspired by his father-in-law, Franc Skaza.
In 1905, Ferlinc became the mayor of the municipality of Šmarje pri Jelšah, a position he held for 19 years. During his first year as mayor, he re-established the fire brigade, which began operating under Slovenian command. He was also involved in the founding of the national reading room, savings and loan association, Sokol society, and other organizations in Šmarje. Ferlinc married Skaza’s daughter, Sofija, who tragically died during childbirth with their second child. In 1922, he bought Skaza’s house and moved there with his family, which he later built with his second wife, Marija.
ROOM 4
FROM SANCTA MARIA TO ŠMARJE PRI JELŠAH
1236 – First Mention of Šmarje pri Jelšah
The parish church of Šmarje was first mentioned in 1236 under the Latin name Sancta Maria, which also marks the earliest recorded name of the settlement – Samaria in Latin. By 1348, the settlement was referred to as S. Marein, in 1385 as S. Marein pei Lemburg, and in 1446 as S. Marein under Botschaidt.
Legend has it that a large lake once lay where the town now stands, with an island at its centre. A chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel was initially built on this island, and later extended into the present-day church with its tall bell tower. The church was known as Mary of the Lake, and the settlement that soon grew around it took its name from the church.
It remains uncertain whether the name “Šmarje pri Jelšah” originated from buildings erected on petrified alder trees due to marshy ground, or from the nearby Jelše Manor, first mentioned around the same time as the church. Under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the town was known as St. Marein bei Erlachstein.
1244 – The Medieval Market Town of Lemberg
Until the 11th century, the Lemberg area belonged to the Breže-Selje estates and was later under the jurisdiction of the Bishopric of Krka. The name Lemberg, associated with the castle Lengenburg, first appeared in sources in 1138 and again in 1244, when the settlement was granted its initial market rights.
The estates were ruled by the Lords of Žovnek–Lemberg, who in 1341 were granted their comital title – the Counts of Celje – based on their dominion over Lemberg. After the extinction of the Counts of Celje, the castle was destroyed by imperial troops, and according to some sources, also by the Turks.
The first imperial charter was granted to the Lemberg market by Emperor Maximilian I in 1506 in Graz, which conferred full market and fair privileges. Over the following centuries, Lemberg received seven further imperial privileges for free trade. Fairs were particularly important and became a key source of local prosperity.
During the second half of the 18th century, Lemberg reached its economic peak, a period from which several Baroque and Classicist houses remain. The most notable is the former courthouse, known as the Magistrat or Rotovž. The last charter was granted to Lemberg by Emperor Francis II in 1797.
Lemberg also had its coat of arms, a stone pillory (pranger), and a gilded Hand of Justice. The town’s layout, dating back to the 15th century, remains largely intact, with foundations of several medieval buildings still present — including the Rotovž (now a local history museum), the Church of St Pancras, the former chapel of the Lords of Žovnek–Lemberg, and the Church of St Nicholas.
1424 – First Mention of Jelšingrad Manor
Older literature places the origins of Jelšingrad Manor in the High Middle Ages, between 1146 and 1335, when the estate is associated with the Bavarian noble family of Erlach, from whom it gained the name Erlachstein. However, the manor is first clearly mentioned in written sources in 1424 under the name Erlach. By 1479 and 1490, the estate is referred to along with the settlement of Dvor (German: Hoff), and by that time, the Slovene form Jelsche (later Jelše) is also recorded. At the time, the Šmarje area belonged to the Lemberg dominion under the Diocese of Krka, which had been in the feudal possession of the Lords of Žovnek–Celje since the 12th century. After the death of the last Count of Celje, Ulrik, in 1456, the lands passed to the provincial rulers. By the end of the 15th century, the area was under the Korpule dominion, which in 1680 merged with Jelše into a smaller lordship. Jelše Manor was explicitly mentioned in 1666, when Count Sigismund Gaisruck leased the estate and expanded the medieval core into a Baroque-style residence. The manor’s distinct oriental appearance — a rare example of Arab-Moorish revival architecture in Slovenia — was added by its owner, Rudolf Gödel Lannoy, between 1845 and 1883. In the first half of the 19th century, Jelšingrad Manor housed the Local Court of the parish estate until its dissolution in 1849. From 1854 to 1868, it was home to the Jelšovec District Office.
1473 – Turkish Raids in the Šmarje Area
According to legend, the Turks invaded this region because the powerful ringing of the Šmarje church bells disturbed their encampment along the Croatian-Styrian border. As they advanced across the meadows toward Dvor, they were as numerous as leaves and grass. The earth is said to have rumbled a day before their arrival, and the bells rang of their own accord. The people of Šmarje sought refuge behind the strong defensive walls surrounding the parish church. It is said that the Turks were driven out of Šmarje by a “white lady” who appeared above the church bell tower. Within these church walls was the local cemetery, used until 1832. Though the fortifications were removed in 1878, they had protected the church from the great fire of 1778, which destroyed the entire town. Tragically, all documents preserved in the Šmarje rectory perished in the blaze, wiping out crucial records of the town’s early history.
1498 – Korpule Manor
The original Korpule Manor stood near the Lemberg provincial court. In 1498, it may have served as the administrative centre of the Vrbovšek Estate from the Savinja Valley. In 1556, Krištor von Saurau and his wife Margareta sold their Šmarje office and Korpule Manor to Hans Tattenbach. His descendants retained the estate until 1604.
Subsequent owners included Anastazija Vogl, her heirs Marija and Rozalija Sattelberger, and later the estate passed through marriage to Gačnik of Dobrna – Baron Schlangenburg. In 1680, Baron Sigismund Gaisruck — also the owner of Jelšingrad Manor — acquired Korpule. The final owners were the Habjan and Smole families.
Historically, Korpule Manor served as a hunting lodge. Before World War II, it housed administrative offices of the Šmarje district and was later repurposed for residential use. Over the centuries, the manor changed hands many times and, due to a lack of maintenance, fell into ruin by the end of the 20th century.
1653 – Peasant Revolts in Styria
Following a successful local peasant uprising in 1634 at the Studenice Monastery, a broader revolt swept through Lower Styria the following year. The 1635 uprising, which lasted from 24 April to 8 May, was part of the traditional type of peasant revolts. Its causes lay in the continued burden of serfdom, enforced obligations to the manorial lords and the state, and the denial of basic rights to the peasantry.
During the revolt, numerous manors, estates, and parish houses east and northeast of Celje fell into rebel hands, including Korpule and Jelše manors in Šmarje. The lords were driven out, and the manors were seized and looted by the insurgents.
1645 – The Plague in Šmarje
In 1645, two men from Šmarje brought the plague from Ptuj to the nearby village of Brecljevo. The disease swiftly spread throughout the parish, claiming the lives of over 200 people. In the aftermath of this devastating loss, a wooden chapel was erected on the hill above Šmarje, where mass was held three times a year: on the second Sunday of Advent, on St Stephen’s Day, and the feast of St Sebastian, accompanied by a solemn procession.
It was believed that God, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, St Roch, and St Sebastian, heard the penitent and fervent prayers of the people and swiftly banished the plague from the land. An inscription beneath a fresco in the Church of St Roch tells us that the plague was already driven out of Šmarje by 1646. The fresco depicts the town with its parish church and the small church of St Roch, toward which a procession winds, while rays of divine grace descend from the heavens, sent by the Virgin and St Roch. The faithful brought so many offerings to the wooden chapel that a permanent church was eventually built and consecrated to St Roch, the patron saint against the plague.
1666 – Construction of the Church of St Roch
Between 1646 and 1666, the Church of St Roch was constructed. Its simple, robust exterior with high, narrow Gothic-style pointed windows belies the richly adorned and stuccoed Baroque interior, one of Slovenia’s finest. At a time when Baroque was only beginning to flourish in the region and echoes of the Renaissance and even distant Gothic influences remained, this church became a masterpiece of sacred art. In 1738, under the initiative of parish priest Matej Vrečer, the church was stuccoed and painted, creating a stunning Baroque interior. The renovation involved master builder Jožef Hoffer of Maribor, Bavarian stucco artists Johann Rauch and Franz Resch, and fresco painters Jožef Weittenhiller and Jožef Anton Lerchinger.
1753 – Completion of the Calvary
In 1743, priest Matej Vrečer, having already overseen the renovation of St Roch’s Church, initiated the construction of a Calvary to symbolically link the Assumption of Mary Parish Church with St Roch’s Church. Between 1743 and 1745, six large chapels were built depicting the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. Smaller auxiliary chapels, outside the central theme, complemented the journey with dramatic and spiritual flourishes.
The Calvary was opened to pilgrims in 1753 and quickly became a major site of devotion. Richly sculpted and adorned, each chapel featured group sculptures and wall paintings depicting the Passion of Christ. With the feast of the Assumption of Mary followed immediately by the feast of St Roch, pilgrims would often stay in Šmarje for two days. By 1760, as many as 12,000 pilgrims visited Šmarje for the double feast. Today, the original wooden statues are preserved in the Baroque Museum, while replicas now stand in the chapels.
1754 – Pilgrimage Church of the Virgin Mary at Sladka Gora
The site of today’s Sladka Gora pilgrimage church was originally home to a church dedicated to St Margaret, dating back to the mid-14th century. It had three bells, one cast in Venice in 1487. The area above the church was then known as Najdelišče (Neideliše), a name shrouded in mystery and tied to an unknown event that inspired pilgrimages to the site.
In 1741, the Brotherhood of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary was established there. As devotion to the Immaculate Conception grew, the old church soon became too small. In 1744, construction of a new pilgrimage church began, and by 1754, it was completed and dedicated to the Miraculous Virgin Mary and St Margaret of Antioch.
The project was led by Lemberg’s enlightened parish priest Janez Mikec, who brought together prominent Baroque artists: architect Jožef Hoffer, painters Franc Jelovšek and Anton Cebej, sculptor Jožef Straub, the carving workshop of Janez Jurij Mersi from Rogatec, and Ferdinand Gallo of Celje. Together, they created one of the finest Baroque monuments in Slovenia
1850 – Franc Skaza Sr. Becomes Šmarje’s First Mayor
With the abolition of feudalism in 1848, a new administrative system based on the principles of a modern bourgeois state was introduced. Judicial and administrative powers were transferred from feudal estates to state authorities. Within the judicial district of Jelšovec — part of the Celje district administration — the local municipality of Šmarje (St. Marein) was established. Each municipality had a municipal council comprising a board and an executive body, headed by the mayor and municipal councillors. During the first municipal elections, Franc Skaza Sr., an innkeeper, became the first elected mayor of Šmarje. As few municipalities could afford official premises, it was common for the mayor to conduct business from his own home.