Before arriving to Slovenia, we made a rough plan for the places we wanted to visit. As Slovenia is relatively small in comparison to other European counties, we thought a week would be enough. We realised shortly after that while Slovenia may be small in size, there are castles, medieval architecture, rivers, waterfalls and lakes that are pristine and beautiful. One of these being Predjama Castle, which is the worlds largest cave castle. Below we will look at our experience from the Predjama Castle Tour.
Predjama Castle Tour
Where is Predjama Castle?
Predjama Castle is a 15 minute drive from Postojna town (9 kilometres). It is also about an hours drive from the capital of Ljubljana. The castle itself is relatively easy to find with free parking onsite.
Facts about the Castle
The name of the castle, Predjama Castle, translates to “in front of a cave”. It’s location, halfway up a 124 metre cliff is one of the most recognisable features of the castle. Only from the interior of the castle is it possible to see some of the secret tunnels. These tunnels are where the knight Erazem of Predjama set out on his expeditions (see below).
Elements of the castle date back to the 12th century! The gothic architecture is still recognisable even though the Castle has been reconstructed many times over the years. While a Renaissance-style remains, the Gothic facade is still visible.
The cave which sits below the castle forms part of the Predjama Cave system. Between May and September visitors can enter the cave. During the other months the colony of bats are hibernating.
The story behind the Castle
Over the centuries, a number of high-bred families owned the castle. Of these, the most famous being Erazem Lueger who owned the castle in the second half of the 15th century. He was a renowned robber baron who caused grief to many including Frederick III, the Holy Roman Emperor. That did not stop Frederick from coming after Erazem causing him to go into hiding in the secret tunnels of the castle. Erazem managed to survive in the secret tunnels for over a year before one of his servants sold him out.
One night when Erazem was in the outhouse on one of the highest floors in the castle the servant waved a flag and a single shot from a canon blast Erazem off the toilet.
Exploring the Exterior of Predjama Castle
The exterior of the four storey castle was the draw card for us. The unique architecture and incredible location is not worth missing!
Exploring the Interior of Predjama Castle
It is very easy to get lost in the Castle however that is part of the fun! Spread across four storeys, there are multiple staircases and look out locations. Back in the day intruders used to have boiling oil poured on them on entry. You can still see the holes in the ceiling at the entrance! As you move further inside you will find 16th century chest’s full of treasure!
Our favourite part of the Predjama Castle Tour was finding the hiding place at the top of the castle which was excavated into the Cave. As you walk up the stairs, it is imperative to turn around to witness the incredible view through the hole in the cave. This was Erazem’s hiding place in the castle!
How to buy tickets
The best way to visit the Predjama Castle is to buy a ticket for both the castle as well as Postojna Cave. These attractions are close in proximity and are both worth visiting. The audioguide available at Predjama Castle Tour is available in 15 languages. The price of the combined ticket is 38.50 EU ($60.80 AUD).
If you want to read about our experience of Postojna Cave click here.
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