TIME AND SPACE
Bourgeois Culture
In the 19th century, the aristocracy started making space for economically successful bourgeoisie – the middle classes, the private life of whom also dictated the changed image of interiors. The cultural-historical Biedermeier period is characterised by more comfortable and lighter yet aesthetically perfect furniture. The fine arts also approached the needs of the bourgeoisie, dominated by portrait painting, stylistically torn between Classicism, Romanticism, and Realism, and experienced a real boom. Along with portraits, landscapes and town vedutas and floral still lifes, were also popular.
Interest in Home and World
Along with the socio-political changes, the 19th century brought great interest in local history, which attracted numerous scholars. Their economic and social status allowed them to learn about foreign cultures. Consequently, private collections were created of precious and rare objects from Africa, the Middle and Far East, and elsewhere.
The Discovery of a Roman Settlement
In 1909, the notary Dr Hans Winkler, an amateur archaeologist, discovered a Roman post station and settlement in Stari trg near Slovenj Gradec – Colatio. It was situated along the route of the Roman state road that led from Celeia to Virunum. He discovered the part of the settlement with Jupiter’s temple and an Early Roman cremation cemetery, while later, together with the archaeologist Dr Walter Schmid, he also researched the Late Antique and Early Medieval cemetery at Puščava behind the Castle Hill. A good part of archaeological artefacts in the collection originates from Winkler’s legacy.
Hospital Care
The beginnings of today’s hospital date to 1866 to the founding of a lazarette for the treatment of wounds, which was soon abandoned. In 1880, a modestly equipped hospital for emergency cases began to operate, but discontinued due to its unsuitable location. Dr Hanns Harpf and his supporters convinced the Okrajna hranilnica Slovenj Gradec to acquire the Maierhof estate in 1895. The buildings were converted into a temporary regional hospital, which received its first patients in April 1896. In June 1898, it was elevated by imperial law to the status of a public hospital with all rights and duties.
FIGURES
Dr Hans Winkler (1863, Strass – 1952, Dobrla vas)
The Styrian notary lived and worked in Slovenj Gradec between 1902 and 1919. It is assumed that he lived at his brother Josef Winkler’s house in the so-called Winkler House (today 1 Trg svobode). As an amateur archaeologist, he excelled in discovering the history of the Mislinja Valley. In 1909, he found and partly researched the remains of the first villa rustica (Dovže) in present-day Carinthia. In the same year, he started excavating the Roman settlement of Colatio in Stari trg and set the foundations for further archaeological research in this area.
Dr Hanns Harpf (1866, Graz – 1938, Slovenj Gradec)
In 1892, he was appointed district doctor by the Health Council of the Land of Styria. He revived the need for hospital health care in the town. With the establishment of a public hospital, he became its manager and the only permanently employed doctor, while at the same time he also kept a private practice. He was an amateur photographer, a keen mountaineer, the president of the Slovenj Gradec Mountaineering Association, and the main initiator and organiser of the construction of a mountain hut on Uršlja Gora.
Oskar von Pistor (1865, Vienna – 1928, Vuzenica)
The Vuzenica painter graduated from the academy of fine arts in Munich and moved back to Vuzenica in 1897. He arranged an atelier for himself and a dwelling for his family in the dilapidated Vuzenica Castle. As an exceptional portraitist, trained in the manner of realistic painting of the 19th century, he painted portraits of aristocrats and renowned townspeople, yet did not achieve great recognition during his lifetime. Four of his oil portraits and a drawing are kept in the Soklič Collection. Slovenj Gradec townspeople Jožef and Elizabeta Pruš are depicted in two of the portraits.
Talented Compatriots
The life of the local middle classes in the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century had a significant impact on the cultural and artistic pulse of Slovenj Gradec. A few individuals rose above the average and transcended local boundaries with their activities: the poet Ernst Goll (1887–1912), composer Hugo Wolf (1860–1903), and sculptor Franc Berneker (1874–1932) are among those talented countrymen who, due to the more favourable opportunities, showcased their talent in larger cultural and artistic centres.
POINTS OF INTEREST
The First Street
By 1436, Slovenj Gradec had the right to store Aussee salt and a large warehouse for it. A priest’s granary (storehouse) was built in the town for larger amounts of grain and in 1487 the road alongside it was named Skladiščna ulica (Kastengasse). This was the first street in Slovenj Gradec, today Vorančev trg. The oldest name of the square dates back to 1382, when it was called Der Platz – Hauptplatz (Main Square).
The First Park
Upon the 60th anniversary of his reign (1848–1908), a new park was planted in honour of Emperor Franz Joseph in front of the present-day high school in Slovenj Gradec. The celebration was attended by many citizens, old and young, in festive attire and uniforms and carrying flags. The main celebration with a grand jubilee parade, which was also attended by Slovenian ethnographic groups, took place in Vienna on 12 June 1908.
The Old Town Hall
The old town hall belongs among the oldest townhouses in Slovenj Gradec, as it was first mentioned in 1612. What was once the town hall has the town’s coat of arms depicted on the crenelated triangular front on the roof. In 1930, the town hall was officially renamed the State Office of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. At the time, the ground floor housed the municipality premises and the municipal servant’s apartment. The court was on the first floor, and above the judge’s rental apartment. Above the prison on the ground floor, which operated until 1955, was the tax office. Today, the building houses a museum and a gallery.
Post Office
In 1842, a postal unit was established in Slovenj Gradec. The letter collection and later Imperial-Royal Post Relay Station operated on the premises of the Post Hotel owned by Johann Goll. In 1870, the town acquired a telegraph office. In 1927, the post office moved to the present-day Cankarjeva ulica and in 1931 to the extension of the Sandwith – Schuller Hotel. Today, Poštna ulica street and the Stara pošta restaurant are named after it.
RADOVEDNI POPEK
Meet the Bourgeoisie
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the bourgeoisie had a significant influence on life in our town. They lived in large townhouses similar to this one. They were accompanied by a particular lifestyle, fashion, and hobbies: they listened to classical music, organised gatherings in salons, and played board games. They liked to cycle, go riding, read books, and paint. Slovenj Gradec offered plenty of opportunities to have fun and meet at Glavni trg, where there were various shops, craftsman’s workshops, and several hotels and inns.
As Stylish as the Bourgeoisie
Have fun with the bourgeoise fashions!
Egyptian Writing
In the 19th century, the middle classes liked to travel the world and explore faraway places, bringing different souvenirs home from their travels. They were enthusiastic about foreign cultures, especially those of the East, Africa, and Asia. They collected artworks and weapons. The most popular tourist destination was Egypt. Can you assemble your name from the old Egyptian writing – the hieroglyphs?
Slovenj Gradec 100 Years Ago
Compare Slovenj Gradec in the past and today. What has changed?
