Corridor: Via Adriatica
Country: Slovenia, Lipica, Karst
Type: Intangible Heritage
Epoch: 20th Century, Middle Ages
Theme: Intangible Heritage
World Heritage:

Lipica is a settlement on a karst plateau with a stud farm. It gained worldwide fame with the breeding of Lipizzaner horses, named after Lipica, which is an original Slovenian name (lipica - a small linden tree). The stud farm is the only unified, intact medieval farm estate in the country. The breeding of karst horses and the Lipizzaner breed started more intensively after 1580, when the Habsburg Archduke Charles bought the older estate of the bishop of Trieste. The foundation of the Lipizzaner breed is the indigenous Karst horse, refined with Spanish, Napolitan and Arabian horses. A fast and teachable horse was bred for the needs of the court, military and the Spanish Riding School. The karstic conditions, stony area and north "bora" wind were especially suitable for developing stamina and resilience in the horses and were therefore chosen intentionally. The stallions are normally darker, and with age the horses take on their characteristic white colour. In Lipica there are six basic bloodlines of stallions: Conversano, Favory, Maestozo, Neapolitano, Pluto, Siglavy, and more than a dozen bloodlines of mares. The Stud Farm is open regularly for visitors. There are scheduled performances with the horses, especially in the summer season.

Slovenian Tourist Board