Lipica Stud Farm

Lipica, on the Karst plateau near the Italian border, is the historic stud farm that gave its name and its horses to the famous white Lipizzaners, the elegant breed bred here since 1580 for the imperial court and the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Visitors can tour the stables and pastures and watch the graceful horses trained in classical dressage.

History

Archduke Charles II of Inner Austria founded the stud farm in 1580, choosing the Karst because its soil and climate resemble those of Spain, and the first horses, 24 broodmares and six stallions, were bought from Spain in 1581. A coal mine worked east of the village from 1778 to 1817 (Wikipedia, Lipica, Sežana).

What you'll find

• The white Lipizzaners - the elegant horses in the stables and pastures.
• The classical riding - the dressage training and performances.
• The historic stud farm - the stables and grounds dating from 1580.
• The Karst landscape - the stone-walled pastures and oak avenues.

When to go

The warm months for the pastures, tours and performances; the horses are the year-round draw. Check the schedule for training sessions and classical riding shows.

Before you go

It is a working stud farm and equestrian centre, so the experience centres on horses and dressage, best for those who care about them. Performances and tours run to a schedule, so check ahead. The Lipizzaner tradition is a genuine, centuries-old heritage.

Nearby

The Skocjan Caves and the Karst wine region are nearby; the Italian border and Trieste are close.