Hrastovlje

On the karst elevation, the natural sanctuary for local inhabitants from ancient times, above the village is the famous Church of Holy Trinity. The chapel, its most precious and the only masonry building, used to be encircled by wooden walls and served as a sanctuary for peasants who hid before armies and raiders believing in the God's protection. The interior of the church belfry, redecorated by wooden partitions, often served as a granary. As the small church in Hrastovlje was not sufficiently fortified, a stone wall with two watch towers was erected around it. Despite the commenced unification of the walls in light of the attacks by Turks, it was completed only after some heavier pillagings, usually by unemployed military groups who had roamed the area. The village was owned by German feudal lords. After the first Austro-Venetian War, all the decisions concerning the area were made during the peace process. During the 16th century wall restorations, Hrastovlje was ruled by the noble family of Neuhaus from Kranj. In 1589, the defensive wall was described as damaged requiring necessary renovations. The Neuhaus family sold Hrastovlje to doctor Leonardo from the Koper family of Zarotti. He was a medical supervisor, of which there is a stone inscription on the church portal. There is an interesting notation made by Naldini, who must have had high appreciation for Koper noblemen, who wrote that the doctor bought the estate in Hrastovlje with gold.