Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Slovakia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Canada
the United States
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
South Africa
Australia
Fiji
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Museum · Škofja Loka, Gorenjska
Škofja Loka Castle
Castle above the old town, first mentioned in 1215, housing the Museum of Loka, with collections of history, archaeology, ethnology, art and natural history of the Sora valleys and an exhibition about the Passion of Škofja Loka.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Škofja Loka Castle
The castle occupies a plateau above Škofja Loka’s old town and appears in documents from 1215. It was the seat of the bishops of Freising’s power in the region. Damaged by the 1511 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the following centuries and took its current form as a group of wings around a courtyard. The city took over the castle in 1959.
The Museum of Loka (Loški muzej) occupies much of the rooms. The collections show life in the Selška Sora and Poljanska Sora valleys: archaeological finds, the history of the bishops’ town, the guild trades, costumes, furniture, an old wood‑stove kitchen and the region’s bobbin lace. The medieval art collection includes replicas of Gothic frescoes from regional churches, among them the one of Saint Dominic from Crngrob.
A permanent exhibition is dedicated to the Passion of Škofja Loka, inscribed in 2016 on the UNESCO list of intangible heritage, the first inscription for Slovenia. There is also a gallery of local 20th-century artists, the castle chapel and a natural history collection.
Around the castle, the garden has trails, and rural buildings have been reconstructed on the grounds. From the top you can see the roofs of the old town and the surrounding hills.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About two hours, between the museum and the garden.
Best time
In the morning, before walking the old town. The museum has closing days and summer and winter hours; check in advance.
How to get there
On foot, from Mestni trg square, via a street and stairs that climb to the plateau in a few minutes. By car, there is parking near the castle.
Tip
Visit the Passion room of Škofja Loka before going to the Capuchin library or Crngrob: it helps to understand what you will see. The replica of the Saint Dominic fresco shows details that are hard to see in the church.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Škofja Loka Castle
What does the Loka Museum have?
Collections of archaeology, history, ethnology, art and natural history from the Sora valleys, replicas of Gothic frescoes, a 20th-century art gallery and a permanent exhibition about the Passion of Škofja Loka.
How do you climb Škofja Loka Castle?
On foot from Mestni trg square, a few minutes’ climb. You can also reach it by car, with parking near the castle.
How much time to allow for the Loka Museum?
Allow roughly two hours for the collections and the garden.