Experience the life of a lord of a castle
Slovenia is rich in castles, manors, fortresses, and fortification systems. These were built at various times during the medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods, and the first traces of their construction date all the way back to antiquity. Time got the better of many of them, but dozens now fulfil interesting functions.
Hundreds of castles could once be found around Slovenian lands, but many have been overtaken by unpredictable historical events. Only ruins remain, which excite the people of today due to the stories hidden within the thick walls and the beautiful views of the picturesque landscape. Quite a few mighty buildings survived the test of time; in these you can now see various exhibitions and shows, listen to concerts, dine, spend the night, or experience the wedding of your dreams.
Bled Castle
A picture that won’t easily escape your memory: a romantic lake with an island, dominated by a mighty castle on a steep cliff. It was first mentioned in written records in 1011, but only the Romanesque castle wall and the entrance tower have been preserved from that era. The dynamic castle buildings date to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Bled Castle will impress you with an astonishing view, a smithy, a printing press, a Knight's Hall, and a castle chapel. At the castle, visitors can also taste local dishes and excellent wines.
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Ljubljana Castle
One of the central and most distinct attractions of the capital city is most certainly its Castle, which offers an unforgettable view of Ljubljana and its broader surroundings. In clear weather, you can climb up its panoramic tower, rising 400 metres above sea level, from where you will be able to see a third of Slovenia. As renovations at the Castle have been taking place for many years, new hidden rooms inside and under the magnificent building keep surprising us with new experiences.
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Old Castle of Celje
One of the most impressive castles in Slovenia is the Old Castle, located on a hill dominating the town of Celje. When you climb up to it, the view of the town, the Posavje Hills, and the Alps will take your breath away before you continue exploring the castle walls and the remains of the once mighty castle itself, which covers an area of no less than 5500 m2, the story of which began between 1120 and 1130 A.D. The castle is closely linked to the history of the Counts or Princes of Celje.
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Predjama Castle
This is a unique Slovenian castle that will take your breath away. The level of its preservation and its unusual location are quite fascinating. The castle was built almost 800 years ago in this dizzying location. One of its most famous residents was the rebel knight Erazem Predjamski, who also knew of a hidden tunnel in a karst cave behind the mighty castle, which led to the surface and thence to food. Legend has it that his ghost now haunts the castle.
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Negova Castle
Are you friendly with ghosts? Then this is the castle for you. It is home to the friendly witch Apolonija, and in one of its walls resides the ghost of a Turk who was sealed up there while still alive by the raging residents of the castle. The mighty building is full of stories – including the one about King Matjaž or Matthias Corvinus, whose cannonball, with which he attacked the castle in 1487, now hangs above the entrance. The castle complex an impressive area of 4839.35 m², is now open for tours, various events, weddings, and photography exhibitions.
Podsreda Castle
Podsreda Castle is unusually well-preserved, and one of the most important cultural remains of the Romanesque period. Its medieval core is still almost untouched, which also makes the castle special on a Europe-wide level. You can take a walk around the castle and learn about the life and the customs of its residents, and a special exhibition is also dedicated to the famous mathematician Jurij Vega.
Otočec Castle
Romance and fairy-tales are words that come to mind when you see a wooden bridge, the broad expanse of the blue River Krka bustling with swans and ducks, mighty trees, and an island surmounted by a Gothic and Renaissance building. Otočec Castle is the only island castle in Slovenia, and is surrounded by a 200-year old park filled with indigenous and exotic tree species. There are also a golf course and a health resort nearby. The castle houses a world-class restaurant and a luxurious hotel, a member of the Relais & Châteaux chain.
Snežnik Castle
The idyllic natural backdrop with trees and a pond with ducks, reflecting the image of the white castle, will immediately bring out your romantic feelings. If you are not already married, you will want to have your wedding at this castle that dates back to at least the 13th century. The interior of the castle is from the 19th century, which makes Snežnik Castle one of the rare buildings of its kind with authentic interior elements.
Bogenšperk Castle
Built in the early 16th century as the successor to a medieval fortress, this castle was designed in the shape of a square with four towers and a large internal courtyard. Its owners frequently changed, but its heyday was during the period of the famous Janez Vajkard Valvasor (1672–1692), who was a polyhistorian and a member of the British Royal Society. His impressive body of work, which includes a study of the intermittent Lake Cerknica and a history of most of the area that is today's Slovenia, can be seen at the castle.
Rajhenburg Castle
If you are interested in the Romanesque and Gothic periods, you will be interested to note that the original structure of this castle was built in the 9th century. However, its current design dates back to the early 17th century, and it was also extensively modified by the Trappist monks in the 19th century. Until World War II, the famous Trappist Cheese, sparkling wine, chocolate, and chocolate liqueur were made here. Today, visitors to the Castle can learn how to make Trappist chocolate.
Brdo Castle
Do you know where presidents, royal family members, diplomats, and other renowned world personalities are accommodated when they come to Slovenia? Brdo Castle is the main protocol facility of the Republic of Slovenia, and in the past, it was home to the Yugoslav royal family of Karađorđević and of President Josip Broz Tito. Tours of the castle are only possible during European Heritage Days, but it is most certainly a pleasant experience to visit its estate, to play golf and stay at the nearby Brdo Hotel.
Strmol Castle
Visit Strmol Castle to experience the life of a castle lord. This castle is among the oldest and best preserved in Slovenia. Even its interior is historically authentic, dating mainly from the Baroque and Biedermeier periods. This means that when you visit this castle, which has been turned into a lavish hotel and is a member of the Schlosshotels & Herrenhauser hotel chain, you can sleep on the bed of the last lord of the castle. During your stay, you can also meet the castle's unique guard – a crocodile.
Sevnica Castle
Take a walk through this castle that is more than 700 years old and see incredible rooms with frescoes and various museum collections. The excavated artefacts of the Ajdovski Gradec settlement dating from late antiquity, and two early Christian churches are also of special interest. Blue Franconian grapevines grow on the castle hill, so you can finish off your tour with a wine tasting in the castle wine shop. Replenish your energy in the castle park, where strong energy points are marked.
Mokrice Castle
With its close proximity to a spa, an 18 hole golf course, centuries-old forests, and a 200-year-old English park, Mokrice Castle is in a perfect location and its guests can feel even better today than the lords of the castle did in the past. Today, the castle is a 4-star hotel, so guests can enjoy a fusion of various activities, cuisine, and overnight stays in castle rooms.
Ptuj Castle
Head to the small hill that will raise you above one of the oldest towns in Slovenia, and enjoy the strategic view that was once enjoyed by our ancestors millenia ago. The castle was built on the remains of a Roman temple. In the 17th century, elegant rooms with exquisite stuccowork were built. These rooms now house the museum artefacts.
Brežice Castle
The history of this pleasant castle building with four towers and a former drawbridge is very exciting and can be read as a suspenseful adventure story. Today, the castle impresses its visitors with a museum collection and beautiful frescoes, which experts say are a first-class Baroque gallery and a virtual encyclopaedia of antique mythology.
Loka Castle
Above the old town centre of Škofja Loka, which impresses visitors with its medieval appearance, there is a castle. In this castle, you can see various museum collections, and the castle’s fine architecture will also draw your attention. It was built by the Freising Bishops in 1202, but was later reconstructed and modified a few times, e.g. after earthquakes in the 16th and 17th centuries and at the end of the 19th century when the Ursuline nuns became the new owners.
Maribor Castle
From an administrative building to a mighty castle. This is the history of the castle that can be found in the old city centre of Maribor. This dynamic building is ideal for exploring, as it houses a museum, and it is also interesting due to various building elements, including a rococo staircase with various figures and walls decorated with exquisite stuccowork, and Baroque knight’s halls bearing images of the seasons, horse-mounted battles, and the story of Odysseus.
Cities of culture
Why visit just one town or city? In Slovenia, visitors only need a brief time to experience a number of adventures in various towns. Look through this catalogue of historical cities and towns, pick a place and go for a visit!
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