The best experiences of the mysterious underground of towns

Secrets beneath castles

At the time of their construction, they probably didn’t create any special excitement, especially if they were used as dungeons. Well, nowadays you’re welcomed to castle cellars with open arms and invited to taste selected wines. However, if you’re still tempted to experience the darker side of the mysterious world beneath castles, you can choose from a number of special gamified experiences from which you’ll come away without a scratch. 

Ljubljana: Behind castle bars under Ljubljana Castle

Many interesting stories have evolved over the years regarding Ljubljana Castle and the capital’s history. Some of them are rather dark and sinister. They mainly involve the former castle prison. On a guided experiential tour, you can listen to the stories of former prisoners and jailers told by actors dressed in costumes from various historical periods. 

Take a peek at the castle prison

Ptuj: From urban legends to tasting in the dark in the tunnels under Ptuj Castle

The tunnels under Ptuj Castle are a treasure trove of history and urban legends. They had a double role in the past: they served as secret passages and were also used as storage facilities, especially for wine. Even today, they show different aspects to visitors. Go on a guided walk of the tunnels and learn about the history of the castle and the oldest Slovenian town, Ptuj. Enjoy a family adventure with Escape from the Castle Tunnel, or a unique wine or beer tasting in the dark. 

Experience the tunnels under Ptuj Castle

Celje: A town beneath today’s town

The roots of Celje reach back to the time of the ancient Romans. Literally. Hidden under the surface of the modern town lie the remains of the Roman Celeia. At the exhibition in the cellar of the Princely Palace, you can admire preserved Roman roads, town gates and the in situ foundations of ancient villas. If you want to learn more about this ancient town, which was once considered the second Troy, and how life was lived in it, you can attend a guided tour of the exhibition.

Take a walk among the remains of the Roman Celeia

In the footsteps of miners in abandoned mine shafts

The work of miners is strenuous and dangerous, yet inspiring stories of camaraderie and cooperation arose from the dark mine tunnels. These stories now revive the abandoned mines and inspire unforgettable experiences through which you can learn about the lives of miners and their families in the past. 

Velenje: The Slovenian Coal Mining Museum, a gourmet experience and the mysteries of submerged villages

The Velenje lignite mine boasts one of the thickest layers of coal in the world. More than 250 million tonnes of coal were extracted during 150 years of mine operations. Learn about the story of the Velenje mine and the lives of miners and their families at the Coal Mining Museum. Deep under the surface, you’ll find the deepest dining room in Slovenia, where you can enjoy a gourmet experience of the Šalek Valley. Mining has also left a visible mark on the surface. It affected the founding of Velenje, one of the youngest Slovenian towns. What’s more, certain villages disappeared due to subsidence and lakes formed over their former locations. 

Discover the mining trails in the Šalek Valley

Experience a world-class gastronomic adventure in Slovenia's deepest dining room. Enter a time machine and become a part of an underground adventure on...

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Velenje Underground – a gastronomic adventure 160 metres below the surface

Price in EUR From 185,00 €

An experience that reveals how mining has shaped the landscape of Šaleška Valley and its inhabitants.

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Mysteries of submerged villages

Price in EUR From 116,00 €

Idrija: The UNESCO heritage of the mercury mine 

The former mercury mine in Idrija is considered the second largest in the world and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List together with the mercury mine in Almadén, Spain. Venture on a journey through Anthony’s Main Road, one of the oldest preserved mine entrances in Europe, to explore the rich history of mining in Idrija and perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to meet the mining dwarf, Perkmandlc, who supposedly showed the miners the way to the ore. The walk through the abandoned tunnels offers an insight into 240 million years of geological history. You can also visit other sites linked to the Idrija mining tradition, such as the Hg Smelting Plant and the museum at Gewerkenegg Castle. 

Enter the world of the mercury mine

Tržič: Mysteries of the St. Anne mine

Cinnabar ore, from which mercury is obtained, was once extracted in the area of Tržič. The St. Anne mine is found near Podljubelj and comprises a five-kilometre system of tunnels which can be accessed in the company of local guides. Discover the history of the mine and its geological variety. Find the dwarf, Šentanček, who still protects the treasures of the mine. You may even encounter a cave beetle or a bat as they seek their shelters in the abandoned mine shafts. 

Visit the St. Anne mine

Jesenice: On the trail of iron ore in the Sava Caves

The development of the iron industry in Jesenice was particularly marked by iron ore. Ore was extracted in the Sava Caves above Planina pod Golico as early as the 14th century. Of the many tunnels, only the entrance to Karl’s Tunnel was preserved, and this can still be seen today. Travel back into the past, to the time when Jesenice miners were still extracting iron ore, and learn about their everyday lives on the Old Mining Route. The route, on which iron ore was transported for four centuries, will take you from the ironworks settlement of Stara Sava to the mining area of Sava Caves. 

Learn about the iron heritage of Jesenice

Experiences in former shelters and bunkers

Facilities used as shelters and bunkers during wartime have now been given a new lease of life. Many serve as meeting places for social life. They house exhibitions and various events. Even research labs can be found in them. Some facilities still retain the authentic atmosphere of military shelters. 

Maribor: A secret aircraft engine factory in tunnels under the Tezno Zone

Equipped with a helmet, a torch and waterproof footwear, you can descend 15 metres below the Tezno Zone accompanied by guides who will tell you about the industrial past of Maribor. Due to the possibility of bombardment, a German aircraft engine factory was relocated into the bowels of Slovenia’s second largest city. Experience the underground tunnels in their authentic form and see the exhibition on their construction and history. 

Descend into the Maribor underground

Kočevje: Astonishing mysteries of the Škrilj bunker 

In the embrace of the Kočevje forests, another world is hidden, buried 72 metres below the surface. The Škrilj bunker was built during the Cold War. Its exceptional infrastructure would make it possible to survive for up to 100 days without outside help in the event of an atomic bombing. You’ll be surprised at how meticulously it was designed. It even had its own water reservoir and an electric generator. The bunker can only be visited in an organised group. 

See the underground mastery of engineers

Kranj: From a city shelter to a research lab 

The tunnels under the old city centre of Kranj were designed as a city shelter. Today, the 1,300-metre-long system is a space that offers various experiences. Take a walk through the system and discover the town’s history. Although the tunnels are man-made, you can still see dripstones there, as the climate is similar to that found in natural caves. Learn about the life of proteus in the SOS Info Centre Proteus. In addition to regular guided tours of the tunnels, other events, such as the popular Wine Route, are also organised. On these, you can taste the best Slovenian wines in an underground environment.

Discover the world under the city centre of Kranj

Wonderful cave world

In addition to the human impact on the world beneath the Earth’s surface, nature has also created an array of majestic caves and other subterranean formations. One of these is the most visited tourist cave in Europe, but there are also others that impress with their uniqueness. It’s not only the caves that are interesting. Some of their residents are also exceptional. Special caves can be found in Bizeljsko, in which you can taste noble local wines.

Postojna: The Postojna Cave: The queen of all caves

When travelling from Ljubljana to the coast, you can stop at Postojna, a town famous for the largest cave castle (Predjama Castle) and the queen of all Karst caves, the Postojna Cave. Hop on the train of the oldest cave railway in the world to visit the cave. You will be in awe of the masterpieces that nature can create from water, limestone and a dash of minerals. Meet the most famous resident of the cave: proteus. Visit the EXPO Postojna Cave Karst exhibition to learn about the creation and particularities of the Karst. 

Be seduced by subterranean beauty

Kostanjevica na Krki: The Kostanjevica Cave, the hidden underground gem

Kostanjevica na Krki is known for its artistic spirit. Also when it comes to nature. See it for yourself in the “gallery” of the Kostanjevica Cave, in which the underground currents and tectonic shifts created a diverse world under the Gorjanci Hills featuring typical dripstone formations with imaginative names. Join a guided tour of the section of the cave open to the public, where the largest colony of horseshoe bats in Slovenia resides.

Discover the beauty of the Kostanjevica Cave

Koper: Why Sveta jama (Holy Cave) should be on your must-see list

The Holy Cave must be visited for several reasons. It’s very location next to a forest not far from Socerb Castle, with a marvellous view of Koper and the Adriatic coast, is a picturesque sight all by itself. The cave obtained its name from a legend about St. Servolo, who lived in it as a hermit and cured the sick. It’s not surprising that a unique underground church, where services were held, was later built into the cave.

Visit the Holy Cave

Črnomelj: The black olm, the unusual resident of the Bela Krajina underground

In the clean groundwater flowing under Bela Krajina lives a very special cave animal, which has a “relative” in Postojna. This is the black olm or black proteus that was discovered some 300 years later than its better-known relative, proteus. The olm occasionally resurfaces from its underground shelter at the source of the Jelševnik spring near Črnomelj. Visit the exhibition at the Zupančič Homestead, where you’ll learn everything about this cave amphibian.

Meet the black olm

Brežice: Welcome to the repnice, the caves full of wine

You can taste wine in many places, but you won’t experience it anywhere else the way you’ll experience it in the surrounding area of Brežice and Bizeljsko. In this region, you’ll find repnice, caves dug in flint sand that are more than 200 years old. They were initially used for storing turnips (repa in Slovenian), but have nowadays been turned into unique wine cellars. With their constant temperature, repnice provide ideal conditions for the maturing of wines. Some of them are embellished with intricate wall and ceiling ornaments.

Raise a toast in a repnica

Stories from the Earth’s surface and underneath it

Slovenian towns will charm you with their combination of history and modern vibe. But behind the walls, under the town streets, on the outskirts of towns and elsewhere, countless exciting stories await you. See the bright and dark sides of towns. Learn about the urban legends and people who have made their mark on town history.