The Park of Military History will be open in June from Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 16:00, and on Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00 and 18:00.

To visit the interior of the submarine or the police boat P-111 as part of the museum’s additional offer, advance booking is required by telephone on +386 (0)31 775 002 or by e-mail at [email protected].

A flight simulation experience in a MiG-21 aircraft simulator is available upon advance booking by telephone on +386 (0)31 775 002 or by e-mail at [email protected]. The supplementary charge for the flight simulator experience is EUR 15 per 15-minute session. The simulator may be used by one person at a time. The activity is conducted under the supervision of an instructor. The minimum height requirement for using the simulator is 135 cm.

 

 

Between 5 and 7 June, the Park of Military History will be breathing deeply and embracing the outdoors. This year, the Living with Nature Outdoor Festival will take place over three days – from Friday to Sunday – offering everything from active exploration of nature to a vibrant family festival atmosphere.

 

 

On this year’s Statehood Day, 25 June, as we celebrate the 35th anniversary of Slovenia’s independence, we will mark the occasion in a particularly special way with a gathering of vintage firefighters’ associations – a true feast for the eyes and a tribute to tradition. Visitors will have the opportunity to see more than 25 hand-operated fire pumps and over 10 motorised fire pumps in one place, showcasing technological progress and the dedication of generations of firefighters over the decades.

The event will be enriched by children’s workshops, where the youngest visitors will discover firefighting heritage through play, as well as an antiques fair and a book fair for all enthusiasts of history, collecting and good stories. To round off the celebration, the group Lisjaki will perform at the end of the event, creating a truly festive atmosphere.

 

 

The Park of Military History will host the international miniature festival “The World in Miniature” on Saturday, 23 May. At the 18th traditional gathering of modellers and scale model enthusiasts, organised by the Society “Svet v malem” and taking place at the Park of Military History for the fifth time, more than 150 creators from numerous European countries participated last year. In addition to domestic participants, competitors from Croatia, Italy, Hungary and Austria, as well as Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, competed in various contest categories. In total, more than 500 scale models were exhibited.

PROGRAMME:

Saturday, 23 May 2026

09.00–11.00 Registration of scale models for the competition

11.00–16.00 Plastic scale modelling competition

11.00–14.00 Children’s plastic model assembly workshop *

10.00–17.00 Exhibition of plastic scale models

10.00–17.00 Presentation of the Society Svet v malem

10.00–17.00 Presentation of modelling societies and the historical re-enactment society Regiment

10.00–17.00 Flea market for scale models, modelling accessories, and military history literature

14.00 Presentation of a vehicle from the operational collection of the Park of Military History and the Military Museum of the Slovenian Armed Forces

15.00 Guided tour of the exhibition The Downing of Mustang Mk. III KH467 of No. 112 Squadron of the Royal Air Force near Gornje Ležeče

16.00 Guided tour of the exhibition ARSENAL OF HERITAGE – 20 YEARS: Photographic Highlights of the Development of the Park of Military History

17.00 Announcement of the competition results

Sunday, 24 May 2026

10.00–18.00 Exhibition of scale models and presentation of the Society Svet v malem

10.00–13.00 Children’s plastic model assembly workshop *

 

* Participation in the workshop requires prior registration via e-mail at [email protected], as the number of participants is limited. The workshop is suitable for children aged between 8 and 15.

The organiser reserves the right to amend the programme.

In May, the Park of Military History will be open from Monday to Friday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and on Saturday and Sunday between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

On Saturday, May 23, the Park of Military History will host the international miniatures festival “World in Miniature” (Svet v malem). This will be the 18th traditional gathering of scale modelers organized by the World in Miniature Society, taking place at the Park of Military History for the fifth consecutive year.

To view the interior of the submarine or the P-111 police boat as an additional museum offer, a prior time slot reservation is mandatory by phone at +386 (0)31 775 002 or via email at [email protected].

Trying out the MiG-21 flight simulator is possible with a prior reservation by phone at 031 775 002 or via email at [email protected]. The surcharge for trying the flight simulator is 15 EUR per 15-minute time slot. The flight simulator can be used by one person at a time. The session takes place under the supervision of a guide/instructor. The minimum height requirement to experience the simulator is 135 cm.

In cooperation with the British Embassy in the Republic of Slovenia, the Park of Military History organized a memorial ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, marking the anniversary of the crash of the Spitfire MH980 aircraft near the village of Suhorje in Brkini, and the death of its pilot, Sergeant Edmund Ramsbotham of the 249th Squadron of the British Royal Air Force. This was one of the most famous fighter units of the Royal Air Force. Established as early as August 1918, it achieved its fame during the Second World War—first in the Battle of Britain, and later over Malta, Sicily, Italy, Albania, the Balkans, and right at the end of the war, over Slovenian territory. Sergeant Ramsbotham was the last casualty of this renowned unit in the Second World War.

By the end of April 1945, the vast majority of Europe had already been liberated from the Nazi yoke. However, in the hinterland of the northern Adriatic, the 97th Corps of the German Army was still fiercely resisting. British Royal Air Force fighters, assisting the Yugoslav Army, stalked German road and rail transports, thereby seriously hindering the supply and movement of enemy units. Exactly 81 years ago, on the morning of April 29, Sergeant Ramsbotham took off in his Spitfire MH980 from the Canne airfield in Italy, refueled at the Prkos airfield near Zadar, and then flew towards Trieste in search of enemy units. On his way back, he attacked an enemy ammunition truck in a low-level flyover. The aircraft was hit by the explosion of the truck and crashed near Suhorje immediately after. The villagers of Suhorje gave the young English pilot a dignified burial in the village cemetery. Shortly after the war, British military authorities exhumed Ramsbotham’s remains and relocated them to the military cemetery in Belgrade, where he rests to this day.

The central part of the ceremony was a tribute to the fallen pilot, where the Minister of Defense, Mag. Borut Sajovic, and the Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the United Kingdom, Nigel Baker, laid wreaths at the monument as a sign of respect and alliance. The ceremony was also attended by other distinguished guests, including Defense Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Ewan Christian Noble Harris, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Pivka Majda Godina, and representatives of veterans’ organizations and the Slovenian Armed Forces.

The gathering was first addressed by the Director of the Park of Military History, Mag. Janko Boštjančič, who highlighted the importance of preserving historical memory and the role of both the Park of Military History and the local community in safeguarding the heritage of this event. Every year, the ceremony brings together locals and high-ranking state representatives in a shared expression of gratitude for peace and freedom.

In his address, Minister of Defense Mag. Borut Sajovic emphasized the symbolism of the venue: “It is a special honor for me to be here today at this memorial ceremony, where we remember a pilot whose fate is symbolically tied to this place.” He pointed out that this is a story of courage, sacrifice, and values that continue to connect us today. He stressed that this memory is also the foundation of cooperation between the Slovenian and British sides, as well as the local community. He thanked everyone present, especially the soldiers, guardsmen, and veterans of the war for Slovenia, concluding his speech with the thought: “Let us preserve the memory and the commitment so that future generations may live in peace.”

The British Chargé d’Affaires, Nigel Baker, also highlighted deep gratitude and the importance of the alliance in his speech. He emphasized that sacrifices like Ramsbotham’s were not in vain, as they paved the way to a free and united Europe. He expressed his sincere thanks to the residents of Suhorje, who have carefully preserved the memory of the young British pilot for decades, which, in his words, proves the strong and enduring partnership between the United Kingdom and Slovenia. The speeches were joined by the representative of the British Royal Air Force, Squadron Leader Martyn Matt, who highlighted the tradition of the Royal Air Force and the importance of maintaining friendly ties between nations.

The monument in Suhorje thus remains a lasting symbol of friendship that connects the local community, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.

Even before the ceremony, the British delegation attended the opening of the “Display Case of the Month,” which presents the local story of the downing of a Mustang Mk. III KH467 aircraft of the 112th Squadron of the British Royal Air Force, piloted by South African Lieutenant John Hellon Nixon. His remains were buried by German soldiers at the crash site, right next to a forest road. After the war, locals helped find the pilot’s grave, and his remains were subsequently identified and transferred to the Belgrade military cemetery on December 12, 1947.

📷 Simon Avsec

The Park of Military History will be open every day between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM during the May Day holidays (April 25 – May 3).

To view the interior of the submarine or the P-111 police boat as an additional museum offering, a prior reservation is mandatory by phone at +386 (0)31 775 002 or via email at [email protected].

Trying out the MiG-21 flight simulator is possible with a prior reservation by phone at 031 775 002 or via email at [email protected]. The surcharge for the flight simulator experience is 15 EUR per 15-minute slot. The flight simulator can be used by one person at a time. The experience takes place under the supervision of an instructor. The minimum height required to use the simulator is 135 cm.

The Park of Military History will be open in April from Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 15:00, and on Saturdays and Sundays between 10:00 and 17:00.

On Saturday, 18 April, and Sunday, 19 April, the SUBMARINE WEEKEND will take place at the Park of Military History. A varied programme of lectures, workshops, and presentations will run between 09:00 and 17:00.

To visit the interior of the submarine or the police boat P-111 as additional museum offerings, prior reservation of a time slot is mandatory by telephone at +386 (0)31 775 002 or by email at [email protected].