Gradac (pronounced [ˈɡɾaːdats]; German: Gradaz)[2] is a village in the Municipality of Metlika in the White Carniola area of southeastern Slovenia, close to the border with Croatia on the Lahinja River.

Traditionally many craftspeople (stonemasons, locksmiths, wainwrights, wheelwrights, and potters) and farmers lived in the village.

This airfield was originally built in World War II in order to allow allied aircraft to land to evacuate wounded soldiers and civilians and to deliver other humanitarian aid such as medicine.

[10][11][12][13] Since the summer of 2006, locals have begun a relatively successful campaign to inform the Slovenian public about the neglected castle and the potential for it to serve as a hotel in order to develop tourism in this region.

[17][18][19][20] In March 2009, MP Renata Brunskole, who was also mayor of Metlika, asked Minister of Culture Majda Širca about government plans for the castle.

[21] Although the minister's response was not encouraging, the ministry of internal affairs included the castle in the project Invest in Slovene Tourism.

Apparently[clarification needed] German intelligence found out that a large number of wounded waited in the village for evacuation through the nearby Partisan airports of Otok or Krasinec.