Podsreda Castle, owned by the Municipality of Kozje and managed by the Kozjanski Park Public Institute, has been continuously developing new content and expanding its offer over the years. Throughout this process, it actively collaborates with the local community, associations, and service providers, giving its programmes a strong sense of authenticity and local character.

Recently, significant steps have also been taken towards positioning the castle within the business events market – the MICE segment (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions).

Podsreda Castle is entering this market as a boutique business venue with a strong and authentic identity. With its historically rich setting and location amidst the forests and unspoiled nature of the Kozjansko Regional Park, it offers a truly exclusive experience. It is particularly suitable for small to medium-sized business events, where the focus is on quality, content, and a holistic experience. It is ideal for event organizers seeking something different, as well as for teams looking to step away from the office into a calm and creatively inspiring environment.

The castle offers a variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces, along with solid technical equipment (interactive screens, projection options, etc.). Guests can also enjoy four-star castle accommodation with wellness facilities, guided or self-guided tours (including audio guides and VR/MR experiences), electric bike rental, and access to numerous nearby natural and cultural attractions. Visitors can rely on the professionalism and hospitality of the castle team.

In the past, the castle has successfully hosted a variety of events, including sports and relaxation weekends, expert gatherings in the fields of music, geography, and nature conservation, as well as corporate team-building programmes.

Each event also involves collaboration with local destination stakeholders, who contribute to its success through local food and beverage offerings, workshops, atmosphere creation, and visits to their own locations.

To further strengthen connections among local providers, workshops and training sessions were organized at Podsreda Castle in February in cooperation with the Municipality of Kozje. They were led by Miha Kovačič from Acenta. The aim was to enhance existing venue rental services and develop ideas for additional complementary offerings, with a focus on modularity and adaptability for different types and sizes of business events.

The workshops took place in a pleasant and creative atmosphere, resulting in new partnerships and ideas that will be developed into concrete programmes, with the goal of establishing business tourism at Podsreda Castle for the benefit of both local providers and the castle itself.

Text: Veronika Gradišek

Photos: Tara Mijailović in Izidor Kotnik