Things to see and do in Gradež

Fruit drying house Gradež Zabukovec' kozolec with tools collection Strle's kozolec with wheeled drawer Apiary with an exhibitory hive Korošec' old cellar Andolšek's granary Black kitchen with an open furnace Wells in Gradež

Field trips and workshops Drying House is open to everybody Exhibition about the history of Gradež Dried Fruits Festival Folk group »Dry Plums« Composer Marij Kogoj Trips around Gradež

Today Gradež is most known for its fruit drying house. It is arguably the only still working village fruit drying house in Slovenia.

In 2006 a permanent exhibition about the history of Gradež has been opened in the room next to the drying house.

In Gradež, field trips for schools are organized, where the young learn how fruits and vegetables are ecologically grown and preserved. Workshops are also organized, to teach participants the craft of hand-making toothpicks and wicker baskets. Dried fruits, krhljevka (boiled dried fruits spiced with lemon juice), dried fruits in honey, dried fruits in brandy, homemade marmalade, fruit juice and other bites are always available in the drying house. The production of such food is often shown to children, members of different associations or unions, hikers and other visitors.

Every year, on the third Sunday in September, the activities of the Association are presented at the Gradež Dried Fruits Festival. At that time, the drying oven is always filled up so the visitors can taste freshly dried fruits, and can also experience the very process of drying along with its fruity scents. At the Festival, guests can also visits other interesting sites of Gradež, and can get to know the activities of the Association for Preserving Heritage, which is supported by the Municipality Velike Lašče and many other donors. The Festival ends with folk music and dances.

The drying house is also a place where villagers get together and revive old customs. This is where the members of the group Dry Plums are very good at, since they are trying to preserve old folk lyrics and instruments.

Not far from the drying house, under the Zabukovec’ kozolec visitors can see a collection of old equipment and tools, and can take a rest on the hay afterwards. The farm Zabukovec demonstrates the production of cheese from cow’s milk and fruit and vegetable processing to the visitors.

There is an energy spot not far from the village – this is how the villagers describe a cave called “Pušava”. People from Gradež still use an inexhaustible water source Mrzlica that springs below the village.

A composer Marij Kogoj can be best presented by another composer Jakob Jež, who lives in Gradež and is a member of the Association for Preserving Heritage. A CD with Kogoj’s solos is also available, and a house where the composer used to live is still standing in Gradež, now owned by a private owner. Currently, work on a Kogoj Promenade is in progress in Gradež.

Gradež is presented in a leaflet Gradež Fruit Drying House, in the brochure Kozolci of Velike Lašče, where Strle’s kozolec with a wheeled drawer for drying of millet is presented as a peculiarity. Also, the fruit drying process is presented in a special brochure.