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Castle · Postojna, Primorsko-notranjska
Predjama Castle
The castle set at the mouth of a cave, halfway up a 123-meter cliff, about 10 km from Postojna. Linked to the legend of the knight Erazem, who resisted a siege using secret passages through the rock.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Predjama Castle
Predjama Castle (Predjamski grad) is embedded in the mouth of a cave, halfway up a 123-meter limestone cliff above the village of Predjama. The name roughly means “in front of the cave.” A Gothic castle stood there in the 13th century, and the structure seen today, of Renaissance character, dates from 1570 and is supported by the rock.
The most famous resident was the knight Erasmus of Predjama in the 15th century. According to tradition, after turning against the Habsburgs he took refuge in the castle and withstood a siege for more than a year, receiving provisions through a natural passage that exits high on the cliff. The legend says he was eventually killed by a servant’s treachery. Behind the castle, a lime tree is pointed out as the place of his tomb.
The visit passes through halls, the chapel, the kitchen, the armory and the part hewn into the rock itself, including the cleft known as Erasmus’s hideout. The castle is open year-round, with reduced hours in winter.
The cave behind the castle, with several levels of galleries, is usually visited with a guide from May to September; in the rest of the year it is closed to protect bats that hibernate there. In summer, the castle hosts a knight tournament in honor of Erasmus.
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 an hour for the castle; another hour and a half if you include the cave in season.
Best time
In the late afternoon, when the sun lights the cliff and the white façade. The galleries behind the castle receive visits in the warm season, generally from May.
How to get there
About 10 km from Postojna by a signed local road, with parking below the castle. In holiday months, a bus runs from the cave entrance.
Tip
Photograph the castle from the meadow opposite, across the road, before you climb up: that is where you can best see how it rests against the cliff.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Predjama Castle
Who was Erazem of Predjama?
A 15th-century knight who, according to tradition, withstood a siege of the castle for more than a year, supplied by a secret passage in the rock.
How far is Postojna Cave from Predjama Castle?
About 10 km. In July and August there are shuttle buses connecting the two.
Is the cave behind Predjama Castle open year-round?
No. Generally it’s open from May to September; during the rest of the year it is closed to protect bats.