We have arranged our own garden areas on which we grow vegetables, herbs, spices and berries.
Organic Garden at Castle Otočec
The castle garden is located near the Otočec castle, in a clean and unspoiled environment
The products are used by chefs from the Grad Otočec restaurants, Šport Otočec Hotel and Šmarješki Toplice Spa to prepare delicious dishes and local specialties. You can also visit the garden and chat with the gardener, who will tell you many secrets of growing healthy food.
In the castle garden, we can find vegetables of various kinds, herbs, as well as fruit trees and berries.
Varied and thoughtful planting
Flowers and herbs planted among vegetables repel pests or attract beneficial insects that destroy pests. That is why we do not use any chemical plant protection agents here. They occasionally use only homeopathic remedies to repel bedbugs, fleas and other bugs. When planting, local varieties are of course preferred - because they are more resistant and better adapted to our climate and, above all, because we would like to show our guests how varied and full of flavor our local food is.
Students of nature
In the castle garden, we are committed to organic production. What's more, when planting and picking fruits, we take into account the laws of biodynamic cultivation to the greatest extent possible. We know very well that observing natural rhythms and natural laws in gardening ensures an even higher quality crop. The fruit that grew on a timely planted plant and is harvested at the right time contains more vitamins and other valuable substances and has a fuller smell and taste. The vision of the castle garden is to create a pleasant ambience that offers visitors and users of the garden an aesthetic and calming experience. That is why we recreate nature, its patterns and laws in the garden. So in this garden, just like in nature, we can encounter colorful colors and smells, very different growth and also different arrangements - in some places there is order, in others it is chaotic.
Inspiration from the forest
The castle garden is surrounded by a forest on two sides, a precious ecosystem from which we draw inspiration. In the forest, leaves and dry twigs fall to the ground, and this creates a fertile ground in which the seeds germinate. It's the same in our garden. We don't shovel the shafts, we just loosen them. We use natural substances for loosening and mulching the soil - branches, straw, sheep's wool and leaves, and compost from garden waste and horse and sheep manure for fertilizing. Since the compost retains moisture well, the bed does not need to be watered much.
The garden shed is a pleasant place for tasting
Next to the garden there is also a tasting area, where visitors who sign up for a tour can taste our products. Guests on vacation at Hotel Šport can also visit the garden with the chef and pick vegetables and herbs from which the chef will prepare dinner for them.
The vision of the castle garden is to create a pleasant atmosphere for visitors
So in this garden, just like in nature, we can encounter colorful colors and smells, very different growth and also different arrangements - in some places there is order, in others it is chaotic.
A special form of wellness
Visitors can also participate in the work in the garden. Creating in the garden in the middle of green nature is an unforgettable experience, especially for those who come from urban centers, where they do not have much contact with nature and often breathe polluted air. After all, such "agrofitness" is also a healthy and increasingly popular form of exercise in nature.
Paths strewn with soft wood chips wind between the beds, and the access path and resting areas are paved with natural stone. From the garden there is a view across the meadows towards Vinje Vrh and across the river Krka to Gorjance. Walks between flower beds, relaxing listening to birdsong and full of flavors of naturally grown food on Otočac: all this, together with swimming in the thermal pool and other sports activities in the area, is a very special Velne experience.
1. 4. 2024–12. 1. 2026
Hotel Šport**** is a synonym for excellent cuisine, diverse sports activities and picturesque nature.
- Family cycling and hiking trail along the Krka River, closed to traffic
- Renovated restaurant, delicacies from the castle garden
- Superior rooms with sports elements, thermal pool, tennis, golf, sports hall
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Your stay at Otočec will be fun, active and relaxing.