LJUBLJANA CASTLE (LJUBLJANSKI GRAD)

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).