Guides · 1 day · 4 stops · from Ljubljana
Four castles in one easy loop: the city's own castle on the hill, Turjak with its Renaissance chapel, the cave of Krka with its underground river, and Bogenšperk, where Valvasor wrote the first great description of Carniola.
The whole guide becomes a trip, day by day, with road times from your town. Swap stops, change the start, download the GPX.
Ljubljana Castle is the medieval fortress on the hill above the old town of Ljubljana, in central Slovenia. From its walls and lookout tower there are wide views over the capital's rooftops and, on clear days, toward the Alps. The castle can be reached on foot by paths from the old town or by the funicular railway.
Turjak Castle is a historic castle in central Slovenia, standing above the village of Turjak south of Ljubljana. It is one of the country's best-known old strongholds, long associated with the Auersperg noble family, and its massive walls and towers make it a worthwhile stop on a day trip. It lies in the Osrednjeslovenska region, an easy drive from Ljubljana on the road towards Velike Lašče.
Krka Cave (Krška jama) is a karst cave near the source of the Krka River in central Slovenia, in the Osrednjeslovenska region. It is a short detour for anyone exploring the upper Krka valley and its springs. The cave lies in the hilly countryside south-east of Ljubljana, close to the village of Krka.
Bogenšperk Castle is a Renaissance manor in central Slovenia, known as the home of the 17th-century polymath Johann Weikhard Valvasor, who wrote The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola here. Its rooms hold exhibitions on Valvasor's work, printing and cartography. The castle stands on a low hill in the countryside above the Sava valley, near Šmartno pri Litiji, and makes an easy half-day trip from Ljubljana.
Ljubljana Castle fills by late morning — take the funicular early or walk up from Old Town. Turjak and Bogenšperk are museums with guided visits on a schedule; Bogenšperk closes on Mondays. Krka cave is a 10-minute walk from the car park by the Krka spring.
