The Ultimate Guide to Castles in Slovenia

Castles in Slovenia are not on everyone’s radar, especially if they are not named Bled Castle, Predjama Castle, or Ljubljana Castle. In fact, there are over 500 castles across this tiny country. This guide will break down castles by region to help you with planning your Slovenian itinerary.

Castles in Slovenia

There is no such thing as a Slovenian king in all of history, but yet there are hundreds of castles in this small country. This is primarily due to Habsburg (Austrian) presence in Slovenia from mid 14th century until 1918.

There are medieval Slovenian castles, Renaissance, Baroque, some of them in ruins while others are now museums or beautiful hotels in which you can stay overnight. Many of the older castles were built on top of hills or cliffs to help with defense while you will see more modern ones appear like mansions built in the lower parts of town.

You might notice there are a lot of different ways to split Slovenia depending on the source. I tend to use the traditional boundaries as this is what is always used among Slovenes (at least from my experiences).

The image below is my rough sketch of the regions (thanks to Photoshop). Below you will find sections for each region with castles you can find in each. Some castles are featured in other articles, while others are still being written.

Castles in or near Ljubljana

Ljubljana Castle

Ljubljana Castle was originally a fortress in the 11th and 12th century, and once served as a royal residence and military barrack, but now houses a museum, cafe, and two restaurants. The castle towers over Ljubljana which also makes it the perfect viewpoint over the city. It can be reached by a small hike up the hill or a funicular and is free to wander the grounds but admissions fees are needed for the viewing tower, exhibits, and chapel.

Visiting information is available via their website.

Turjak Castle

Turjak Castle is a 13th-century castle just a half-hour away from Ljubljana. This castle is no longer being maintained and you cannot go inside. You can walk around the castle grounds. Granted there isn’t a whole lot to do here but I really enjoyed my time exploring the grounds. I especially highly recommend the restaurant mentioned in this article for lunch with a castle view!

Fužine Castle

Fužine Castle, built in the 16th century,  houses the Museum of Architecture and Design. It is named after the neighborhood, Fužine, and it is the only remaining Renaissance castle in Ljubljana. It is done in an Italian style and once had a moat. During the last Saturday of every month, they have English guided tours.

Visiting information can be found via their website.

Jablje Castle

An interesting blend of Renaissance, Baroque, and Late Gothic, Jablje Castle, first erected in 1530, has various layers to it that depict its use throughout history. There you can find some original Baroque frescos and stuccoes. The castle currently houses the Center for European Perspec