Rendez-vous aux jardins

Contact person: Nataša Likar
+386 (0) 533 50 144 
 

Contact person (for MEDS GARDEN+ project): Andreja Trojar Lapanja
+386 (0) 5 33 50 170

The Municipality of Nova Gorica has joined the pan-European initiative Rendezvous in the Gardens, supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and coordinated by the Volčji Potok Arboretum, by showcasing Rafut Park—a unique gem of garden-architectural and natural heritage.
From Friday to Sunday, from 6 to 8 June, Rafut Park will host a vibrant array of events and workshops for all age groups. You can find details about individual events below.

The initiative has a cross-border character: during the same period, visitors can also enjoy guided tours of the newly renovated park at the Coronini Cronberg Palace in Gorizia, including tours in Slovenian.

Friday, 6 June 2025

9:00–11:00 a.m. Workshop on Invasive Plant Species in Rafut Park (organised by the Nova Gorica Biotechnical School, Nature Conservation Technician Programme in cooperation with the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature Conservation/Nova Gorica Unit; not part of the public programme)

During the morning session, the guided tour of the park will be led by the Nova Gorica School Centre – Biotechnical School – Nature Conservation Programme, with students under the mentorship of Ms Alenka Mavrič Čefarin and Ms Rosana Makarovič. During the event, Rafut Park will become a living laboratory for students of the Nature Conservation Technician Programme from the Šempeter pri Gorici Biotechnical School. Students will focus on identifying different plant species and exploring the biodiversity of this unique artificial ecosystem. They will determine the park’s biodiversity index and learn about the importance of preserving such a significant natural monument in our immediate environment. Thanks to the favourable microclimate, protection from the bora wind, and suitable soil conditions, more than 100 plant species from around the world have been preserved in the park. However, invasive plant species have also spread throughout the park, threatening the native vegetation. This presents a specific conservation challenge for the park's long-term management. To preserve this rich cultural and natural heritage, it is essential to identify an appropriate approach that does not alter the natural balance.

11:00–12:00 noon. Workshop “Co-creating Habitats in Urban Spaces” / City Municipality of Nova Gorica and University of Nova Gorica, GreenInCities project (not part of the public programme)

How can we design a city park with animals in mind—those we share our environment with?
In this participatory workshop, part of the GreenInCities project, we will explore possibilities for improving habitats in urban areas / parks together with students from the Biotechnical School.

The workshop encourages us to rethink spatial design from the perspective of other living beings with whom we share our spaces. It represents one of the methods of nature-based planning solutions that contribute to the preservation of biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and the city’s resilience to climate change.

11:00 a.m–12:00 noon  Introduction to Invasive Plants in Rafut Park (Nova Gorica Institute for Nature Conservation, LIFE OrnamentalIAS project)

The Institute for Nature Conservation invites you to an educational walk through Rafut Park, with a presentation and identification of invasive plant species that are spreading rapidly and are difficult to control. A key aspect of removing invasive plants is protecting our health—therefore, proper safety measures must be taken to guard against toxic substances, allergies, mucous membrane irritation, and other risks. Join us for a short but insightful session on invasive species—why they pose a problem, how to identify them, and which control methods are the most effective. Meeting point: main entrance of Rafut Park.

Facebook - LIFE OrnamentalIAS project

Facebook - Razvojne agencije Sora Development Agency

11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Guided walk from the Super 8 location through Europe Square, the railway station, and the Bourbon Rose Collection on Kostanjevica Hill to Rafut Park, organised as part of the MEDS GARDEN+ project.

11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Presentation stands of project partners with their products as part of the cross-border events of the MEDS GARDEN+ project.

2:00–4:00 p.m.   Rafut Park – Charcoal Drawing Workshops as part of the MEDS GARDEN+ project

In cooperation with the Nova Gorica Association of Cultural Societies– TOČKA, park visitors will create drawings using natural charcoal from the charcoal kiln in Lokovec, under the guidance of mentors.

4:00–6:00 p.m. “From Villas to Forks – A Culinary Heritage Experience”, masterclass and tasting as part of the MEDS GARDEN+ project

5:00–6:30 p.m. Guided tour on trees and other plants in the park with the arborist Tanja Grmovšek (with translation into Italian)

Rafut Park, with its exceptional dendrological heritage, represents a unique blend of nature and culture in an urban environment. Thanks to the wealthy villa owners, exotic trees were brought from all over the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Due to the favourable microclimate, protection from the bora wind, and suitable soil conditions, the park is home to 100 different trees and other plants, many of which have reached impressive sizes. A special feature of the park is the cork oak, the oldest preserved specimen in Slovenia.
Based on this rich historical heritage, the trees and other plants tell a true treasure trove of stories for nature and culture enthusiasts.
You are warmly invited to a guided professional walk under the canopies of majestic trees.

Mandatory registration via the website.

Saturday, 7 June 2025

MEDS GARDEN+ Rafut Park Open Day

10:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.“GUESTS” IN RAFUT PARK encountered on a walk: Rafut Park is part of the MEDS GARDEN+ network of Mediterranean didactic gardens. Within the Municipality of Nova Gorica, the dispersed Lokovec Forest Garden is also part of this network. It includes a black pine plantation along the road to Spodnji Lokovec, established at the end of the 19th century on abandoned pastures. This area was once a hub for resin tapping, still evident in the large characteristic scars on the tree trunks—a kind of natural "forma viva". Some of these “forest guardians,” logs marked by resin tapping and felled due to the construction of a forest road, will be showcased to visitors in Rafut Park.

1:00–2:00 p.m. Rafut Park – Villa Rafut Souvenir Workshop – Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Nova Gorica

Join us for a special creative clay casting workshop set in the unique ambience of the park. This workshop offers participants of all ages the chance to try clay modelling and create neo-Oriental castings inspired by the historical and architectural heritage of Villa Rafut. Limited to 20 participants. Registration required:

 2:00–3:00 p.m. Rafut Park – Guided tour of the cultural heritage of Rafut (ZVKD Nova Gorica): Katja Kosič and Alenka di Battista (with translation into Italian)

We will walk through the Rafut Park complex, located in a prominent yet hidden position beneath the Kostanjevica Franciscan Monastery, with views of the old Gorizia castle. During the tour, we will discover the neo-Oriental villa and architectural elements of the park, which, together with numerous rare trees, form a unique and inseparable garden-architectural ensemble. The fascinating history and built elements of the park will be presented, as well as the villa with its gatehouse and its architect Anton Laščak, who also designed villas and palaces for the Egyptian elite in the same style. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing environment, admire the beauty and diversity of the plant life, and learn about the cultural aspects shaping the identity of the park.

4:30–6:00 p.m. Rafut Park next to Villa Coronini Cronberg in Gorizia (IT) – Guided tour of the park (in Slovenian)

We invite you to a guided tour of the historic park next to Villa Coronini Cronberg in Gorizia (Italy), where we will explore the parallels with Rafut Park. Both parks are designed with a diverse range of exotic plants planted near aristocratic residences and play an important role in preserving the cultural identity of the area and the tradition of historical garden design from the late 19th century.

Registration for the guided tour is recommended via the online form.

Sunday, 8 June 2025

MEDS GARDEN+ Rafut Park Open Day

10:00–12:00 noon Guided Tour – as part of the MEDS GARDEN+ project.

Guided tour of Rafut Park, introducing seven storytelling points (Neo-Oriental gatehouse at the entrance to Rafut Park; Landscape architecture with elements of the English landscape style, at the pergola with wisteria; Eclectic Neo-Mamiuk style of Villa Rafut and architect Anton Laščak Beg, at the villa courtyard; “Alexandrinke” and the modern history of the villa, in the new amphitheatre; Gorizia and cross-border stories, at the viewpoint; By the cork oak exotic park and special plants; By remnants of the Villa Palm) with an additional point at the “bamboo labyrinth”. During the walk between the storytelling points, visitors are invited to observe the surroundings and reflect on what they see and hear. 

2:00–7:00 p.m. Guests in Rafut Park

Rafut Park is part of the MEDS GARDEN+ network of Mediterranean didactic gardens. In the Municipality of Nova Gorica, this network also includes the dispersed Lokovec Forest Garden. It features a black pine plantation by the road to Spodnji Lokovec, established in the late 19th century on abandoned pastures.
The plantation was used intensively for resin tapping, evidenced by the large characteristic scars on the tree trunks—a unique kind of natural “forma viva”.
Several of these “forest guardians”—logs marked by resin tapping and felled due to forest road construction—will be on display to fascinate visitors in Rafut Park.

8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Symfo and Rafut Park

The sound project “Symfo” is an interactive audio installation. Visitors activate different sound elements via QR codes on the trees, creating a symphonic experience in nature. The Tree Orchestra—the Symphony Forest in Rafut Park–is freely accessible to users with smartphones and headphones.

12:00–7:00 p.m. Individual Visits and NATURE EXPLORATION WALK

A walk in nature is a simple yet effective way to support outdoor learning. On the maintained path, visitors can observe their surroundings and explore the role of both living and non-living nature in the park ecosystem.
During the walk, participants can collect natural waste materials for reuse (e.g. for learning, artistic expression, or keeping a nature journal through documentation and photography).

Observation:
Encourages and improves observation skills—patience, environmental respect and responsibility, listening to sounds, and sensing colours, scents, and biodiversity.

Experiential Learning:
Nature experiences help learners and visitors refresh, consolidate, and connect knowledge from both formal and informal education. They can gain new insights and apply or build on previous learning.
Tip: Consider how to apply best practices from the park’s natural and garden heritage in your own environment (e.g. sustainable approaches, invasive species, poisonous and edible plants/fruits, etc.).

Registration for the guided tour is recommended through the registration form.

Refreshments with be available for both Open Days (Saturday and Sunday). We reserve the right to make changes to the programme. In case of rain, events will be cancelled.

Access to the park:

On foot:
- via the path for cyclists and walkers along the railway line (from Nova Gorica or Rožna Dolina)
- over Kostanjevica Hill

By bicycle:
- via the path for cyclists and walkers along the railway line (from Nova Gorica or Rožna Dolina)

By bus (Timetable - Bus - Nova Gorica and Vipava Valley), bus stop: “Rafut Park”):
-Cross-border circular line (INT 2)
- Hop-on, Hop-off bus

By car:
Parking is not available directly at Rafut Park. You can park at public parking areas in Rožna Dolina, Nova Gorica, or Gorizia.