The author of the article first describes briefly the process of settling of the Slovenes in the Lower Drava valley, and then on the basis of first mentionings of places which appear in documents of St. Paul’s monastery from the Labotska valley in Carinthia, as the most powerful stimulater of colonization of the discussed area, he proceeds to follow the colonization of the area around Dravograd and Slovenj Gradec. Then he presents the economic and social image of this area, which is especially interesting for its specific geographic position. When treating the manorial estate the author dwells first on its first mentioning in 1282, then he follows its proprietors until 1600, and he also discusses in detail its Dominican and manorial estates.