Discovering Kamnik

Dr. Maks Samec (1844–1889) was a physician and a prominent public figure in the Carniola region. In Kamnik, he led the Burgher Corporation, was an active member of several societies, and served as mayor from 1880 to 1886. His two major contributions to the town were completed in 1882: the construction of a new town hall with a school on the Main Square, and the cutting through of the steep slope below Little Castle, which significantly improved traffic flow, especially for horse-drawn carriages. This so-called Samec Tunnel replaced the steep incline that once separated the town from the suburb. By the end of 1882, the slope had been pierced, several houses demolished, and a new retaining wall built using stone from the nearby Resnik Quarry, located near the inn Pod skalco. During the excavation, workers discovered an old underground passage connecting Little Castle to the Žale area. Its origin remains unclear—it may date back to the 12th century Counts of Andechs, or to the Turkish invasions or Protestant times in the 16th century. Today, three upright stone blocks embedded in the retaining wall mark the entrance to this passage. If you're walking from town toward to Šutna toward the town, they are on the right side.