Plain Tiles in Slovenia - the Past and Present Interwinded

According to Professor Fister, the first written records regarding the use of plain tiles in Slovenia date back to 1392. The church of Martjanci, situated few kilometres to the north of Murska Sobota in the Northeast of Slovenia, boasts of a Johann Aquila's fresco of the 14th century hamlet of Martjanci. The fresco shows the church, hamlet and walls with clay tiles and their characteristic beaver-tail shape which gave inspiration to the Slovene name of the tile, bobrovec (Biberschwanz in German).

Sadly, the 1392 tiles have not been preserved. The oldest tiles preserved are 300 years old and have been found on the largest castle in Slovenia. The castle, which is currently being renovated, is situated in the village Grad in the Goricko of the Prekmurje in Northeastern Slovenia. The village was named after its castle. One of the tiles found is provided with the mark of the year of its production, 1738, and a text the content of which is still being examined. The castle-renovation project is financed by PHARE. It is a great honour for Tondach to have been selected as the plain-tile producer by the investor whose ambition is to provide for a roof covering that may last for yet another 300 years.