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Predjama Castle

Postojna, Slovenia

 

The Predjama Castle reigns over the surrounding area, perched high up in a vertical cliff, not far from the Postojna Cave, in the idyllic village of Predjama. It is an interesting and romantic sight throughout the year: in the spring and the summer its surroundings are abundant with blossoms and flowers, in the autumn it is clad in the colours of surrounding forests and it is at its most enchanting in the winter when the surrounding area is covered in snow. It was referred to in writing for the first time in 1202.
This picturesque, magnificent, defiant, mysterious and impregnable castle has been perched up in the middle of a vertical 123-metre high cliff for more than 700 years. Its romantic appeal is further emphasized by the idyllic River Lokva, which disappears into the underground world deep down below the castle.
 
The undoubtedly most famous of all castle inhabitants was the knight Erazem of Predjama, who rebelled against the imperial autocracy in the 15th century. Nowadays Erazem is the main protagonist of numerous legends, which on the one hand glorify him as a passionate, handsome, noble knight, while on the other hand he is described as a bandit ans a robber baron, who eventually breathed his last while in the toilet.
 
The castle is only accessible from one side, however the legend has it that the robber baron Erazem was getting his food and drinks supply through a secret passage leading from the old castle onto the surface. During this time, the emperor's army was besieging his castle in vain and it took a trick played on Erazem by his opponents and a corrupt servant for Erazem to fall.
 
Visitors learn about the history of the castle and its former owners in the front tower. In other parts of the castle the equipment includes a selection original items, as well as replicas and models. The room with the most opulent equipment is the knight’s room; the castle life in the late Gothic period is presented to visitors in the dining room. The Renaissance hall on the third floor is where hunting trophies of the last castle owner, the Windischgrätz Prince, are exhibited.
 
From May to September it is also possible to visit the picturesque Cave under Predjama Castle. Owing to its position and favourable temperatures it is inhabited by interesting dwellers – a colony of bats, which is why it is not possible to get inside the cave during the bats’ winter hibernation period.

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