Eastern Slovenia is often overlooked by foreign visitors, even though it contains some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country. One of them is Prlekija, a region of sun-drenched vineyards, gentle hills – and an area known as Jeruzalem.

Wines from this part of Slovenia were even enjoyed by the Emperors of Ancient Rome, who gave it a special status among the Empire’s winegrowing regions. Prlekija has just the right climate and soil composition for high-quality wines.

It wasn’t until the 13th century, however, that Prlekija became a true wine country. That’s when a local noble ceded part of the territory to the Crusader Knights of the Teutonic Order. They used the area as a base for crusades to the Holy Land and helped to defend the villages from Turkish incursions, which were common at the time. They also taught many locals to make wine according to the latest techniques.

The Crusaders were enchanted by the local landscape, which reminded them of the Holy Land, and they decided to name one of the highest hills “Jeruzalem” – a name that has survived to this day. A tower they built in the area became a popular destination for pilgrims and was layer transformed into a church. According to legend, a crusader who was grateful to survive a serious illness brought a painting of the Virgin Mary from Jerusalem, and the work of art still graces the interior of the church.

The history of Jeruzalem and the entire Prlekija region remained lively even after the Crusaders left. In the 17th century, a Turkish attack was famously replied by the local women. After another Turkish defeat, a chestnut tree was said to have grown from the bodies of the killed Ottoman soldiers – the storied tree can still be seen today. Another legend stays that Napoleon himself visited the area and praised the local wine.

Local history has become considerably less eventful since then, but some reminders of the Prlekija’s colorful history are still around – including the famous wines, which are once again becoming recognized beyond Slovenia’s borders, and the name Jeruzalem, a memento of the area’s onetime bond with the Holy Land.