Cirkulane
Today’s relief landscape of the Municipality of Cirkulane was shaped from the Pleistocene era onward by the Bela stream and its tributaries – Belica, Duga, and the Gradiški stream. The highest peak in the municipality is Vrbanjšak in Veliki Vrh, reaching 412 metres above sea level. Flat areas can be found along the streams, while the rest of the landscape consists of rolling hills. This diverse and dynamic terrain is made up of 13 settlements, six of which border the Republic of Croatia.
The settlements of the Municipality of Cirkulane are: Brezovec, Cirkulane, Dolane, Gradišča, Pristava, Slatina, Veliki Vrh, Gruškovec, Mali Okič, Medribnik, Meje, Paradiž, and Pohorje.
The Municipality of Cirkulane is especially proud of Borl Castle, which has always played an important role due to its strategic position along the Hungarian-Croatian border. Originally, it served as a Hungarian border outpost and most likely stood already in the first third of the 12th century, or perhaps even earlier. The Hungarian name of the castle is Borlyn (meaning a river crossing), while it is also known by its German name Ankenstein. Cirkulane, once known as St. Barbara in Haloze, is a picturesque and lively settlement.
The village of Cirkulane is closely connected with Borl Castle, located in Dolane on a large cliff above the Drava River. In Cirkulane stands the Church of St. Barbara, a beautiful Baroque church with a slightly leaning bell tower reaching 52 metres in height. The church also contains a crypt where 21 priests are buried, and most likely also the Counts Sauri, who commissioned the church’s construction.
Throughout the year, numerous events take place around the church, including vine pruning, the raising of klopotec wind rattles, grape harvest celebrations, and St. Martin’s festivities. The largest number of visitors and pilgrims arrive at the end of July for St. Anne’s Sunday celebrations.
The Municipality of Cirkulane is also home to the Bračič Hiking Trail, which begins and ends at the birthplace of the poet and writer France Bračič, located right next to the church. Cirkulane is also well known for its traditional carnival celebrations (fašenk) and distinctive carnival characters such as the Haloze korant, rusa, and baba deda nosi. Another important event is Barbarno, held in December.
Today, winemakers from Cirkulane and the surrounding area combine traditional knowledge with the region’s natural advantages to produce premium white wines, including Welschriesling (Laški rizling), Ranfol, Sauvignon Blanc, Furmint (Šipon), Rhine Riesling, as well as aromatic varieties such as Traminer and Yellow Muscat.
Cultural
heritage
Borl Castle
The Borl Castle, rising above the Drava River in Haloze, is one of the oldest castles in Slovenian Styria. Due to its position along the former Hungarian-Croatian border, it played an important defensive and surveillance role very early on, probably as early as the 12th century. It is also known by its Hungarian name Borlyn and its German name Ankenstein.
Throughout history, the castle changed owners several times. Among the most important were the Lords of Ptuj, the Zekel family, and later the Sauer family, who restored and expanded the castle and helped restore its former importance. During their time, the surroundings were also arranged, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity was built, and the development of nearby settlements was encouraged.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, Borl passed into the hands of various owners. During the Second World War, the occupying forces used it as an assembly camp. After the war, it served for a time as a shelter for war orphans, and later housed a hotel and restaurant.
Today, the castle is owned by the state and is recognised as an important cultural monument, awaiting new content and further revitalisation.