Janez Vajkard Valvasor (1641 - 1693)

The famous Carniolan scholar – historian, ethnographer, geographer, cartographer, natural scientist, technician, collector, drawer, publisher, inventor, soldier, traveller – spent his childhood at the Medija estate. His life was almost exclusively dedicated to exploration of his homeland, and he summarized his accumulated knowledge in numerous written publications. The pinnacle of his scientific work is the book The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola, written in German. It is the first systematic representation of Slovenian history, land and way of life. A very comprehensive and richly illustrated work, it is divided into 15 volumes.

It is believed that Valvasor is buried in the family tomb of the Medija castle’s chapel, which includes a memorial plaque and relief bust of Valvasor at its façade ­(the work of medallist Vladimir Štoviček) as well as the latin inscription by Valvasor’s contemporary, Janez Gregor Dolničar: “Človek, počasti ta kraj, ki Vajkard v njem pokopan je...” (Man, honour this place, where Vajkard is buried…)