Podkraj is a village that stretches under the mighty plateaus of the high karst Nanos, Hrusica and Trnovo forest. The villages and hamlets of Visnja, Bela, Vodice, Trsevje and Hrusica also belong to the sub-district headquarters.
Hrusica, extending at an elevation of 858 meters above sea level, is best known for its Roman fortification Ad Pirum. At Hrusica there was a post office from the 1st century on, where it was possible to change the horse-drawn carriage, and from the 2nd century onwards there was also a guard post. In the second half of the 3rd century, the Romans built a fort or castle on Hrusica. Most of the finds date back to this time and mostly to the 4th century, which indicates a large settlement during this period. In the midst of increasingly dangerous barbaric incursions and battles between the armies of different imperial candidates, Hrusica had an important position because it protected the main road from the Balkans to Italy. It was probably a permanent military outpost here. Hrusica became part of the July Alpine defense system, which protected Italy when defense at the borders of the empire was no longer sufficient. The floor plan of the castle is adapted to the land and is in irregular oval shape. The castle was most probably abandoned around 400 AD. Traffic through Hrusica continued until the end of the 6th century. The pear is also mentioned in the famous work of Janez Vajkard Valvasor (1641-1693) - the Glory of the Duchy of Carniola.
At the Old Post inn, visitors can view an archaeological exhibition of objects that were excavated in the area of the former post office and, later, important Roman fortifications within the walls of the Claustra.
Photos
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Hrusica in Roman times Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Hrusica in Roman times]()
Information board - Hrusica in Roman times
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Wooden huts Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Wooden huts]()
Information board - Wooden huts
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> South walls, tower, huts Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> South walls, tower, huts]()
Archaeological Park A...
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> South wall Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> South wall]()
South wall
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Archaeological Park Ad Pirum - South walls and tower Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Archaeological Park Ad Pirum - South walls and tower]()
Archaeological Park Ad Pirum - South walls an...
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Roman food Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Roman food]()
Information board - Roman food
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> North walls, towers Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> North walls, towers]()
Archaeological Park A...
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> North walls, towers Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> North walls, towers]()
Archaeological Park A...
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Entrance gates with twin towers Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Entrance gates with twin towers]()
Archaeological Park A...
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Roman post station Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Information board - Roman post station]()
Information board - Roman post station
![Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Church of St. Gertrude Hrusica - Archaeological Park Ad Pirum <br> Church of St. Gertrude]()
Archaeological Park A...
Data
Municipality: AJDOVŠČINA (19130 population)
Settlements in the municipality:
Ajdovščina (6678 population), Lokavec (1136), Budanje (832), Cesta (551), Col (488),
Planina (480), Selo (477), Dobravlje (464), Vrtovin (461), Podkraj (419), Črniče (407), Brje (393), Dolga Poljana (370), Ustje (369), Predmeja (365), Batuje (365), Velike Žablje (330), Male Žablje (323), Žapuže (320), Skrilje (313), Stomaž (293), Otlica (286), Potoče (237), Plače (236), Gojače (195), Kamnje (192), Šmarje (192), Višnje (186), Gaberje (178), Vipavski Križ (172), Ravne (142), Žagolič (138), Kovk (129), Gozd (127), Malovše (124), Vrtovče (113), Kožmani (105), Tevče (99), Dolenje (98), Zavino (87), Grivče (80), Malo Polje (73), Vodice (62), Bela (37), Križna Gora (8)