A true castle lover should not miss out on the great castles Slovenia has in store for you. They are placed in different regions of Slovenia, but luckily for you, they are all in no more than 90 minutes driving distance from the capital city Ljubljana.
Firstly, visit the Ljubljana Castle, one of the most popular and well known tourist attractions in the whole country. Take a walk to the Castle Hill and start discovering the history of Slovenia and Ljubljana!
1. LJUBLJANA CASTLE, SLOVENIA
The next castle you should not miss on your stay in Slovenia is the Bled Castle. It is one of the most beautiful and iconic places in Slovenia, and the views from the Bled Castle will astonish you. It is located around a 60 minute drive from the capital Ljubljana and is a great one day trip.
2. BLED CASTLE
Next castle we highly recommend to everyone visiting Slovenia is the Predjama Castle, located near the well-known Postojna Cave. Visit the castle and the cave in one day. Make this one of the most unforgettable trips! Predjama castle is around a 60 minute drive away from the capital Ljubljana.
3. PREDJAMA CASTLE
Photo credit: jodastephen
After you have seen some of the bigger castles built by feudal, it is time to visit the only Slovenian castle built for the needs of mine industry, Castle Gewekenegg in Idrija. This may not be the biggest and most prestigious castle, but it is definitely very charming. City Idrija and Castle Gewekenegg are about an 80 minute drive from Ljubljana. Visiting Idrija is a great one day trip into the history of Slovenian mining and lace making.
4. GEWEKENEGG CASTLE
Photo Credit: Ziga
If you do not have a whole day to spend, visit Castle Bogenšperk which is closer to Ljubljana on a nice few hour trip. This castle is great for the whole family with its quite unique exhibitions, suitable for kids and for adults. Castle Bogenšperk was home to one of the most famous Slovenians Johann Weichard Valvasor. It is also a great place to discover the history of the country and get an inside into the mind of this great man.
5. BOGENŠPERK CASTLE
Photo credit: Miran Hladnik
Next three castles are located a bit farther from Ljubljana, closer to the second biggest city in Slovenia, Maribor. The first is the Castle of Ptuj, located about 90 minutes from Ljubljana and a 30 minute drive from Maribor. This castle was built for the needs of military and defense, but it is now home to a great museum, exhibiting objects from different periods of Slovenian history. It is located in the most famous ancient Rome cities in Slovenia.
6. CASTLE OF PTUJ
Photo Credit: Jernej Furman
The second castle in this part of Slovenia is the Old Castle Celje, which is located halfway from Ljubljana to Maribor, about a 40 minute drive from both cities. Although this is not a complete castle, it is a great representation of the past life. Castle was once home to the Courts of Celje, and the prestige of this castle can still be felt.
7. OLD CASTLE (STARI GRAD CELJE) IN CELJE, SLOVENIA
Photo Credit: Amanda Slater
The third castle is the Mansion Štatenberg, which is located near Slovenjska Bistrica and Rogaška Slatina, about a 90 minute drive from Ljubljana. This mansion is one of the biggest in Slovenia and has a style you will not see in any other castle in this area. It is a great idea for a whole day trip, as it offers a lot of outdoor activities and walking treks.
8. ŠTATENBERG MANSION
Photo credit: slov.si
Now we get closer to Ljubljana again. Visit the Žužemberk Castle, located near the river Kolpa, about a 40 minute drive from Ljubljana. Offering great views and stunning sceneries, this is also a great one day trip to the Dolenjska region of Slovenia. This is one of the lesser known castles.
9. ŽUŽEMBERK CASTLE
Photo Credit: Pavle58
The last place in the top 10 castle in Slovenia belongs to an adorable
Škofja Loka Castle or Loka Castle, located in the nicest medieval city in Slovenia. It is located about a 30 minute drive from the capital Ljubljana. The town Škofja Loka is also very worth of visiting, so go ahead and spend one day discovering its beauty!
10. ŠKOFJA LOKA CASTLE AND MUSEUM
Photo Credit: Luka Peternel
TIME
EFFORT
COST
One week
Easy
Tickets for all of the castles cost 45.90 EUR for adults and 28.10 EUR for children.
HOW TO GET AROUND
Best transportation from one castle to another is by car. You can also use public transportation like train and bus, but it will take a lot of time.
INSIDER TIPS
I would recommend you to make this a one week trip and spend some additional time in the area of each castle. This way you will get the chance to meet different regions and traditions of Slovenia.
WHERE TO EAT
You will find great restaurants on Castle Ljubljana, Bled and Mansion Štatenberg. All castles are located very close to cities with numerous restaurants.
RECOMMENDED PLACES
Spend a night or two in Ljubljana, a capital of Slovenia, which offers a lot of attractions and different activities. You can visit Škofja Loka Castle, Bogenšperk and Žužemberk Castle while staying in Ljubljana. Bled is also worth some additional time, and so are Postojna, Idrija, Ptuj and Celje. You can spend a night in Mansion Štatnberg which offers camping and rooms.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS
All castles are located near beautiful Slovenian villages or cities and you will have numerous opportunities for sightseeing. Do not forget to visit Postojna Cave and Bled Lake. Take time to explore cities Škofja Loka, Celje, Ptuj, Idrija and Ljubljana. Do not miss beautiful landscapes near Mansion Štatenberg, and castles Bogenšperk and Žužemberk.
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