Grad Otočec je edini vodni grad na Slovenskem. Stoji na otoku sredi reke Krke, do katerega pridemo preko 2 lesenih mostov. Grad je bil prvič omenjen že 1254. Skozi zgodovino je večkrat menjal lastnike, med njimi je bil tudi poveljnik Vojne Krajine Ivan Lenkovič.
Zadnji lastnik je bila družina Margheri. Gradu je pripadala tudi posest na obeh bregovih Krke, kjer so bila gospodarska poslopja, žaga in mlin. Grad je bil med 2.svetovno vojno požgan, prav tako mostova, tako da se je do gradu prišlo le z napol potopljenim brodom. Po vojni so za silo popravili streho.
Upanje na boljše čase je prišlo leta 1958, ko je takratno jugoslovansko vodstvo sprejelo odlok o gradnji Ceste bratstva in enotnosti. Tako se aprila 1958 na gradu nastani štab mladinskih delovnih brigad, ob trasi ceste na levem bregu Krke pa so postavili barake za mladino, ki je cesto gradila. V času bivanja so deloma popravili tudi grajsko poslopje. V spomin na odprtje cestnega odseka in zasluge mladih pri gradnji ceste je bil ob predaji ceste prometu pred gradom postavljen spomenik.
Grad je po odprtju ceste doživel pravo renesanso. Že leto po odhodu brigad so v gradu odprli restavracijo. Obnova gradu je potekala 10 let pod vodstvom umetnostnega zgodovinarja Ivana Komelja in arhitekta Marjana Mušiča.
Obnovljeni grad so preuredili v hotel, zaradi porasta prometa in turizma pa so na območju opuščenih barak in gospodarskih poslopij zgradili motel in bungalove. 1968 je uprava hotela na otočku naselila nekaj parov labodov grbcev, ki so danes simbol Otočca. Od leta 2010 je grad Otočec umeščen med dvorce-hotele Chateaux-Relais.
VIRI: I.Stopar: Gradovi na Slovenskem, Dolenjski muzej: 50 let avtomobilske ceste Ljubljana-Zagreb, http://www.grad-otocec.com
The Otočec castle is the only water castle in Slovenia. It is located on the isle in the middle of the Krka River. First mention of the castle is dated in 1254. Throughout history, several owners had been changed. One of more known owners of the castle was Ivan Lenkovič, chieftain of Vojna krajina in 16th century.
The last owner was the Margheri family. During the World War II the castle and the bridges had been burnt. After the war, the roof had been repaired, but you could reach the castle only by boat. In 1958 Yugoslav leader decided to construct the Road of Fraternity and Unity. As there was lack of money, they decided to build the road by voluntary youth work or so called youth working brigades. The works on route started in April 1958 and the headquarters moved in the castle. Along the left bank of the river Krka they set up the barracks where the young workers slept. In between they also repaired some parts of the castle.
At the end of the same year the road was finished. A year after the construction of the road, the renaissance of the castle Otočec began. The restaurant was opened and the renovation began. It took 10 years to reconstruct the castle and rearrange it in a hotel.
The tourism arose thanks to the increase of the traffic. After few years the hotel management decided to build a motel and tourist bungalows on the same spot where the sleeping barracks used to be. In 1968, the hotel management also bought several pairs of swans. Today they are the symbol of castle Otočec. Since 2010, the castle Otočec is member of Chateaux-Relais.
SOURCES: I.Stopar: Castles in Slovenia, Dolenjska Museum: 50 years of Ljubljana-Zagreb motorway, http://www.grad-otocec.com
