Puštal

Puštal is the old quarter on the western edge of Škofja Loka, on the bank of the Selška Sora, the river that curves around the medieval town in Upper Carniola. Škofja Loka itself is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Slovenia, and it owed its early importance to the bishops of Freising, who held the surrounding territory from the tenth century. Puštal began as a small settlement just outside the town's walls, a place where craftsmen, mill workers and farmers lived beside the river, and it still keeps a calmer, more rural character than the busy squares of the old town. It is a pleasant place to walk, with its lanes, gardens and old houses on the edge of the water.

The central feature of the district is the Puštal Castle, a long, plain building of Renaissance origin that stands beside the river and gives the quarter its name, a form of the German word for a pasture or a hunting estate. The castle has been used for various purposes over the centuries, and today it forms part of the cultural life of the town, with exhibitions and events held in its rooms from time to time. Details of what is on and when the building is open should be checked locally. The castle is a good example of a type of country residence that developed beside many Slovene towns, with a regular outline, a courtyard and outbuildings.

The approach from the old town is part of the experience. A path along the Sora leads from the town centre toward Puštal, passing the old stone bridge by the Capuchin monastery, which is known as the Capuchin Bridge and has a place in local legend. The bridge is one of the most photographed sights in Škofja Loka, with its arches and the green water below. Beyond it, the lanes of Puštal run among low houses and gardens, and the riverbank has benches and quiet spots where people fish or watch the water.

Paths lead from Puštal into the surrounding countryside, across meadows and through woods to the slopes above the town, where viewpoints and small chapels look back over the red roofs of Škofja Loka and toward the Julian Alps. These routes are popular with walkers and runners, and some are used for cycling. The nearby sights of the old town include the Upper Square and the Homan House, and the great Passion Play of Škofja Loka is staged in the streets of the town at intervals of several years.

Puštal suits walkers, photographers and anyone who prefers a quieter side of a historic town. Allow an hour or two, and combine it with a stroll through the old centre and a climb to the castle on the hill above.