Monuments to visit Slovenia

The castle overlooks the city. It attracts the eye and makes you want to go there. It is a visit not to be missed.

How to get there. There are three ways to get there: Študentovska (in front of Vodnikov Trg), Ulica na Grad (a handful of meters to the right of St. Florian's church) and Reber, at 28 Stari Trg. But for the less courageous, there is a funicular just behind the market square, on Krekov Square. This way, you can reach the castle without any effort and enjoy a panoramic view of Ljubljana.

Visit. The castle is nothing special, a large inner courtyard with a mixture of all kinds of architecture. It is constantly being renovated. Anyway, visit the tower. The entrance with a guide gives access to the top of the tower. The 360° view of Ljubljana is breathtaking. The city appears so far away and so close at the same time. The entrance fee also includes a 3D film showing the history of Ljubljana and consequently of the castle. The whole thing is presented in a playful way and is very instructive. It is also possible to discover the monument in a playful way through a "Time Machine": the visit takes place in six stages corresponding to the six key periods that have marked the history of the castle, the guide changing costume according to the periods commented. For example, we start with a Roman soldier before meeting the Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg... A fun way to learn about the history of this place!

History. Illyrians and then Celts equipped these heights with fortifications. The Romans built a camp there. The first castle is the property of the counts of Spanheim (11th century). Frederick III of Habsburg (1415-1493) completed the original work. The chapel of St. George (1489) attracts crowds of pilgrims once a year on the first Sunday after the feast of the patron saint. It is decorated with the coat of arms of the Dukes of Carniola. The castle dates from the 16th century, the earthquake of 1511 having damaged the medieval part. The tower of the castle (1848) replaces the one destroyed by the French troops in 1813, before their withdrawal from the Illyrian Provinces. Hospital and military camp between 1815 and 1895, the castle also served as a prison until the end of the last century. Nearby, a monument, erected by Stojan Batič (1974), pays tribute to the peasant revolt (16th century).

The castle is a real eagle's nest. Every lord's dream. Impenetrable. It is attached to a 123 m rock face. It was built inside the rock cavity in the 13th century. Nothing to do with the current 16th century fortress built by Jean de Kobenzl. Such a setting, with a complex system of caves and galleries, could only generate the most daring adventures. In the middle of the 15th century, the castle belonged to Nicolas de Foramine, alias Luogar. This rich lord became governor of Trieste. The fiefdom then passed into the hands of Erasmus Lueger. He is probably Nicolas' son, dismissed by Emperor Frederick III. Erasmus Lueger is linked to Matthias, the king of Hungary who fought against the emperor's armies. It's not to please Frederick III. Taken prisoner, sentenced to death, Erasmus managed to escape. Having become a looter with a big heart, defender of the oppressed, the noble rebel confronts the emperor's army. The castle is under siege, but Erasmus has everything it needs. Food comes to him through secret channels and he can come and go without fear. Such a story implies a traitor. A bribed valet tells the enemy where the rebel is. Latrines and a tight fitting ball and chain cause his loss. The wall has five openings. The galleries of the cave are 6.5 km long.

It is the waters of the Lokva that flow into the precipice. After visiting the rooms of the castle, you reach the area where the cave castle was built.

Inaugurated in September 2016, the Žalec beer fountain is a symbol of the importance of hop growing in the region. You can taste six different local beers! A new attraction not to be missed for beer lovers. Among other things, it was awarded the Sejalec 2017 prize for tourism innovation. The site is home to the world's first self-service beer fountain. Get your pint glass and let's go!

The city walls of Piran are mentioned as early as the 7th century. To this day, Piran has retained its medieval character as a clustered urban fabric surrounded by a city wall. Its preserved remains are of exceptional historical value, giving the city a view that is well known to Slovenians. You can access the towers to have a magnificent view of the peninsula and the bay of Trieste. Definitely the place for the best photo views, a must-see.

The oldest part of this extensive castle dates from the ^10th or ^11th century, in particular the west tower. Owned by the bishops of Salzburg at the end of the ^11th century, the building passed to the lords of Pettau (Ptuj) in 1132, who ruled for three centuries until the death of the last descendant, Friedrich IX, in 1438. The complex underwent major transformations. Among the many occupants were the Scottish Leslie family, who bought the castle from the destitute Jesuits from 1656 to 1802, and the von Herberstein family, who owned it privately for the last time from 1873 to 1945, acquiring it at auction.

The entrance portal, named the Peruzzi portal after the architect who renovated the castle until 1572, is surmounted by an attic featuring lions framing the Leslie family coat of arms, three belt buckles. The courtyard is bordered by fine arcades on three levels, with pillars on the first floor and Tuscan columns on the upper floors. Friedrich IX's Salzburg red marble tombstone is one of the most famous of the Gothic period.

The museum boasts a remarkable collection of ^18th- and ^19th-century musical instruments on the first floor (processional organ with bellows, harp, lute, clavichord, Bosendorfer piano). In front of each display case, you can listen to a short musical moment recorded on the instrument of your choice. The Salle des Chevaliers houses a collection of ^17th-century Flemish and French tapestries, furniture, a collection of weapons dating from the ^14th to the ^19th century and, above all, one of the most important collections of Oriental portraits on the Old Continent. Under the brushstrokes of anonymous ^17th-century painters, European monarchs take on the appearance of their Turkish counterparts. The Leslie family coat of arms bears the motto: Grip fast, meaning "hold fast". Walter Leslie was awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece for his victories in the Thirty Years' War and his career as a diplomat in the service of the Emperor.

Curiosities include the ^17th-century chapel with its off-axis altar, the Herberstein family clock collection, a secretary with marble and semi-precious stone marquetry, and the room lined with "chinoiseries". With carnival masks and kurent, the visit takes on an ethnographic profile. The museum also features works by France Mihelič (1907-1998).

The museum is the only part of the castle that can be visited. Mentioned as early as 1215, it was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1511. It was bought back and renovated by the Ursulines at the end of the ^19th century. The museum showcases local handicrafts and several rooms recounting the history of the site. Works by the great Slovenian painter Ivan Grohar are on display, along with reproductions of medieval frescoes and period furniture.

As soon as you arrive in Celje, your gaze is naturally drawn to this monument. It gives the impression of watching over the city. The castle, truly well-preserved, perfectly embodies the image of medieval castles: walls, loopholes, keep and inner courtyards. The walls offer a good view of Celje, and the medieval torture mini-theater included in the tour will give you the chills. Numerous festivities are organized here, including a medieval festival with a gargantuan feast and concerts throughout the summer.

Visible from the small town, this medieval landmark has kept its features after renovation. Built in the middle of the 12th century, it is first mentioned in 1213. On the first floor, historical presentation of the site and engravings from Visher Topographia Ducatus Stirie's book, which lists the castles in the area. In the basement there is a collection of glass objects from Rogaška Slatina from the Kozjansko region. Beautifully renovated since 1983 under the auspices of the Kozjansko Regional Park, the castle is one of the most intimate in the country.

The castle was built in the early 17th century by the Carthusian monks of the monastery of Žiče. In 1828 it became the property of the Windischgrätz family. The chapel has a ceiling decorated with angel heads, leaves and stucco medallions. The Church of the Three Wise Men dates from the 16th century. It was built near Velika vrh (1,347 m) and is mentioned by Jože Tomažič in his tales and legends. A nice visit that should delight lovers of history and architecture.

Built in the ^15th century, the Venetian Gothic palace fell into disuse several centuries after the fall of the Serenissima. Since 2001, major renovation work has given it a new lease of life, and it once again stands out on the famous Piazza Tito. A small marvel of architectural elegance, the historic building now houses Koper's town council, returning to its original function. Alongside the Slovenian flag, the Italian flag flies on the façade, in recognition of the Transalpine minority.

Side by side, Yugoslav partisan liberators and Russian soldiers. Socialist nostalgia before the quarrel with the Soviet big brother. Murska Sobota suffered the full brunt of the Nazi occupation during the Second World War, before being liberated. This monument celebrates this victory over the fascist oppressor. It was erected as early as 1945 by the Russian architect and military engineer Vladimir Aroncik. The style of construction is very symptomatic of Soviet art.

This is the last of the 80 mills that were once in service on La. The mill of the Babič-Karmen family is of pannonian type. The wheel, resulting in the mechanism of the wheel, is arranged between two "floats" on the river. The daily production of flour is 2 tonnes. Fire and water damage have not spared this family of sucker, which has never lowered its arms to revive the activity. This mill, the fourth since 1912, has existed since 1991.

The viaduct with its railway track has an 85 m arch. Inaugurated in 1906, it was then the largest in Europe. The bridge over the Soča was built in 1985 and is used to drive to Goriška Brda. You will cross a little more than 1 km of Italian territory with a plunging view on Soča. It was mined by the Austrian army during the First World War. Heavily damaged after the attack on Kobarid in October 1917, it had to be repaired from 1918 onwards, partly by Italy. It is forbidden to stop on this bridge.

This fountain was made in the famous studio of Ivan Vurnik, an artist from the city, known for having opened the first school of architecture in the country. The statue itself is by Jožef Pavlin. It is a strong tribute to the financial and personal commitment of Josipina Hočevar (1824-1911) to access to education. At that time, it was very rare for a statue to be dedicated to a woman. It depicts a schoolboy holding a medallion depicting Josipina and a textbook in his hands.

Not far from Ig, the old swamps host one of the country's most beautiful churches. External horizontal lines agree with this flat earth. However cold and austere, they don't let you guess the interior architecture, a haven of peace bathed with heat. A modern temple with its wooden structure decorated with geometric motifs, the use of brick and copper, and these columns that make progress towards the sacred place. Plečnik has just blocked our certainties.

It is located in the south-east of the city, a few hundred metres from the centre: it is the largest wood water wheel in Europe with a diameter of 13.60 m. It is more than two hundred and twenty years old. It was in operation until 1948 and pumped water from the mines to a depth of 283 m, at a rate of 2 m³ per minute. Its mechanism is still in a very good state of conservation today. The objective of this technical innovation was to allow miners to access the most isolated areas of the mine. Not to be missed!

The Zaprice Castle, built in the 14th century, has been the home of the town's inter-municipal museum since 1961. Among the interesting sights are a scholarly development of pastoral life in Velika Planina over the centuries and a permanent exhibition on the prestigious place of Kamnik in the Middle Ages. Another exhibition is devoted to the presentation of the latest archaeological excavations in the locality. Temporary exhibitions are presented and renewed several times a year.

The library contains more than 10,000 works from the 17th and 18th centuries, including a copy of the Dalmatin Bible, quite simply the first book in history translated into Slovenian! There are very few copies left in the world. To enter the library, enter the convent and feel free to knock on doors. A Franciscan monk will be pleased to help you discover the hidden treasures of this library, including a collection of some twenty original works printed locally.

This library is absolutely beautiful and worth a visit! It contains a large number of old Slovenian-language books that are part of the national literary heritage. The manuscript of The Passion of Škofja Loka, published in 1721, is particularly interesting. It is the oldest play written in the Slovenian language. Don't miss the staging of this famous text in the streets of the medieval city!

An ethnological monument from the end of the 19th century that commemorates the work and memory of the writer. Ciril Kosmač is a well-known figure in Slovenian literature. His French-language book Une journée de printemps was a great success in the 1950s. He recounts his youthful memories that resurface on his return to his native land after fifteen years of exile, with an ease with words reminiscent of Marcel Proust. In his childhood home we find his desk and drafts of his early writings.