Otočec Castle is a small Renaissance fortress sitting on an island in the Krka river, about 10 kilometres east of Novo Mesto. The island setting — the castle is connected to both banks by wooden bridges — makes it one of the most picturesque spots in Slovenia, and it features on a remarkable number of postcards.
The castle dates to the 13th century, though the current structure is largely 16th-century. It is now a luxury hotel and restaurant, so non-guests can visit the grounds and the riverside paths but not the interior. The hotel restaurant is good enough that some visitors come specifically for lunch, using the castle as a half-day excursion from Novo Mesto. The Krka valley stretching east from here toward Kostanjevica na Krki is quiet and attractive cycling country.