Snow sculptors competing in Koroška

Črna na Koroškem, 28 January - The town of Črna na Koroškem in the north of the country is hosting its annual snow sculpting competition this weekend. Luckily, there is plenty of snow at this time and temperatures have fallen so the organizers were able to make enough artificial snow, which is easier to shape than natural.

Črna na Koroškem.
Osrednji dogodek prireditve Gradovi kralja Matjaža ter tradicionalna gradnja snežnih gradov in snežnih skulptur.
Foto: Boštjan Podlogar/STA

Črna na Koroškem
The Castles of King Matjaž event.
Photo: Boštjan Podlogar/STA

Črna na Koroškem.
Osrednji dogodek prireditve Gradovi kralja Matjaža ter tradicionalna gradnja snežnih gradov in snežnih skulptur.
Foto: Boštjan Podlogar/STA

Črna na Koroškem
The Castles of King Matjaž event.
Photo: Boštjan Podlogar/STA

Črna na Koroškem.
Osrednji dogodek prireditve Gradovi kralja Matjaža ter tradicionalna gradnja snežnih gradov in snežnih skulptur.
Foto: Boštjan Podlogar/STA

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The event, known as the Castles of King Matjaž, evokes the legend of a righteous king sleeping under Mount Peca near by, which competitors as a rule explore as the theme in their sculptures.

Prior to the event, the organizers said some 30 teams had registered to compete, but more were expected to join in by the time event started at 10am today.

The winners will be declared in the late afternoon but the sculptures, illuminated with candles and torches, will remain on display and a lively programme catering mainly to children is planned for Sunday.

Taking place for the 31st year running, the competition has been held in Črna since 2019. Earlier, it was hosted by the nearby village of Podpeca, just under Mount Peca. Since the first iteration in 1993, more than 1,400 snow castles and sculptures have been built.

Linked by some to a real-life king, Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, who lived in the second half of the 15th century, Matjaž is believed to have ruled for the benefit of the people but was forced to hide under the Peca mountain with his surviving solider after other rulers conspired against him.

According to the legend, prosperity and righteousness should return to the Koroška region once Matjaž awakes from his slumber in the cave. This is to happen after his beard wraps nine times around the stone table he is sleeping on. Luckily, Matjaž and his sweetheart Alenčica are sure to make their appearance at the event.

Jan 28, 2023, 12:25 ep/ep