Statenberg Manor
The Learning Village will take place in a hilly and green rural area in north eastern Slovenia, ideal for slowing down as individual, family or a learning community. This is the same local team, venue and community that welcomed us so warmly in 2012 and 2013. Statenberg Manor is a special place full of heritage, stories, natural beauty and healing energy. It has been brought back to life in the past 3 years with the help of local Tourist Association members, and is a place of learning, creativity and fun! Our local host, Franc, is now a key member of our calling team.
Statenberg Manor, Slovenia
Dating from around 1695, the Manor had been largely abandoned since 1983 until August 2012, when the International Learning Village took place there for the first time, supporting the efforts of the local community to bring this sleeping beauty back to life. Since then, the Manor has been renovated only marginally, and it still needs care and attention. It's basic facilities now include six large rooms for workshops, a busy restaurant and function centre, and 19 simple rooms with basic shared bathrooms. Camping is possible on the meadows around the manor.
Located on a tiny plateau overlooking local villages, the venue is safe for families with children.
The nearest village is Makole (700m), home to the wonderful Forma Viva outdoor sculpture trail. The nearest small town is Poljcane (10km). Other nearby towns include Slovenska Bistrica (15km); Ptuj - Slovenia’s oldest town (22km), and Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city (35km).
There are a number of walking and bike trails from Statenberg Manor. There will be a small number of bikes available for use during the Learning Village (for a small donation).
Statenberg Manor, Slovenia
Dating from around 1695, the Manor had been largely abandoned since 1983 until August 2012, when the International Learning Village took place there for the first time, supporting the efforts of the local community to bring this sleeping beauty back to life. Since then, the Manor has been renovated only marginally, and it still needs care and attention. It's basic facilities now include six large rooms for workshops, a busy restaurant and function centre, and 19 simple rooms with basic shared bathrooms. Camping is possible on the meadows around the manor.
Located on a tiny plateau overlooking local villages, the venue is safe for families with children.
The nearest village is Makole (700m), home to the wonderful Forma Viva outdoor sculpture trail. The nearest small town is Poljcane (10km). Other nearby towns include Slovenska Bistrica (15km); Ptuj - Slovenia’s oldest town (22km), and Maribor, Slovenia's second largest city (35km).
There are a number of walking and bike trails from Statenberg Manor. There will be a small number of bikes available for use during the Learning Village (for a small donation).
How to get here
There are many ways to get to Slovenia and Statenberg Manor. We would encourage you to consider your carbon footprint when planning your travel…
By Plane
The nearest airports are Ljubljana in Slovenia (130 km), Graz in Austria (105 km or one hour drive) and Zagreb in Croatia (95 km but transfer may take longer due to the EU border crossing which can get busy in August).
Alternative airports are Trieste, Italy (3 hours drive) and Vienna, Austria (around 3 hours drive but there are sometimes budget flights to Vienna), and Budapest, Hungary. For participants from Germany, see here for low-budget flights from Berlin and four other German towns to Lake Balaton: Sarmellek-Keszthely region, close to the Slovenian-Croatian border.
For onward connections to the Manor, public transport is most abundant if you arrive in Graz or Ljubljana as the venue is situated near the main Ljubljana – Maribor road and railway routes. See the Train and Taxi sections for more details.
For larger groups (8-10 people) it may be possible to arrange a van to make the transfers. See the Travel Sharing document below to connect with others arriving at similar times.
By Train
For international connections, go to www.bahn.de. Slovenia’s railway timetable can be found at www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passengers. From any direction, the trip is picturesque!
Once you arrive in the region, the combination of the train and the taxi is, generally, the easiest way to get to the venue. The closest train station to Statenberg Manor is Poljcane (10 km from the venue), situated on the main Ljubljana – Maribor train line. Some faster trains do NOT stop at Poljcane; but almost all trains do stop at Pragersko (13 km from the venue). For the local taxis to the venue, see the options below. If you let us know in advance, there may be opportunities for us to come and pick you up.
By Car
The village of Makole is almost equidistant both from Ljubljana (105km) and Zagreb (110km). Check http://www.viamichelin.com for the directions from your departure point.
IMPORTANT: Slovenia requires all motor vehicles travelling on Slovenian highways to have a ‘vinjeta’ sticker. Yearly/monthly/weekly stickers cost €95/30/15 for cars. For more info check www.dars.si.
By bus
English bus timetable is available at http://www.ap-ljubljana.si/eng/index1.php. The nearest bus stations are at Poljcane (10km from the venue) or Slovenska Bistrica (15km from Statenberg Manor).
By taxi
Local taxis (Slovenska Bistrica, Pragersko, Maribor)
IMPORTANT: Since this is a quiet rural area with little public transport, there are usually no taxis WAITING for the passengers at train or bus stations. Once you arrive at the station, please call one of the numbers below, and a taxi will usually appear within 10 – 20 minutes after your call.
+386 51 633 997; +386 70 443 760; + 386 2 803 3302 (landline); +386 70 868 069; +386 70 868 410; +386 41 906 741
[email protected]
Travel Sharing
Click here to access a shared document which offers a simple way for you to self-organise travel share to and from Statenberg Manor. Please note, matching of rides etc. will be left to you to self-organise.
By Plane
The nearest airports are Ljubljana in Slovenia (130 km), Graz in Austria (105 km or one hour drive) and Zagreb in Croatia (95 km but transfer may take longer due to the EU border crossing which can get busy in August).
Alternative airports are Trieste, Italy (3 hours drive) and Vienna, Austria (around 3 hours drive but there are sometimes budget flights to Vienna), and Budapest, Hungary. For participants from Germany, see here for low-budget flights from Berlin and four other German towns to Lake Balaton: Sarmellek-Keszthely region, close to the Slovenian-Croatian border.
For onward connections to the Manor, public transport is most abundant if you arrive in Graz or Ljubljana as the venue is situated near the main Ljubljana – Maribor road and railway routes. See the Train and Taxi sections for more details.
For larger groups (8-10 people) it may be possible to arrange a van to make the transfers. See the Travel Sharing document below to connect with others arriving at similar times.
By Train
For international connections, go to www.bahn.de. Slovenia’s railway timetable can be found at www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/passengers. From any direction, the trip is picturesque!
Once you arrive in the region, the combination of the train and the taxi is, generally, the easiest way to get to the venue. The closest train station to Statenberg Manor is Poljcane (10 km from the venue), situated on the main Ljubljana – Maribor train line. Some faster trains do NOT stop at Poljcane; but almost all trains do stop at Pragersko (13 km from the venue). For the local taxis to the venue, see the options below. If you let us know in advance, there may be opportunities for us to come and pick you up.
By Car
The village of Makole is almost equidistant both from Ljubljana (105km) and Zagreb (110km). Check http://www.viamichelin.com for the directions from your departure point.
IMPORTANT: Slovenia requires all motor vehicles travelling on Slovenian highways to have a ‘vinjeta’ sticker. Yearly/monthly/weekly stickers cost €95/30/15 for cars. For more info check www.dars.si.
By bus
English bus timetable is available at http://www.ap-ljubljana.si/eng/index1.php. The nearest bus stations are at Poljcane (10km from the venue) or Slovenska Bistrica (15km from Statenberg Manor).
By taxi
Local taxis (Slovenska Bistrica, Pragersko, Maribor)
IMPORTANT: Since this is a quiet rural area with little public transport, there are usually no taxis WAITING for the passengers at train or bus stations. Once you arrive at the station, please call one of the numbers below, and a taxi will usually appear within 10 – 20 minutes after your call.
+386 51 633 997; +386 70 443 760; + 386 2 803 3302 (landline); +386 70 868 069; +386 70 868 410; +386 41 906 741
[email protected]
Travel Sharing
Click here to access a shared document which offers a simple way for you to self-organise travel share to and from Statenberg Manor. Please note, matching of rides etc. will be left to you to self-organise.