Predjama Castle

Why it's worth the detour

The castle is built into a natural rock arch high in a cliff face, so the cave behind it serves as the back wall. That made it very hard to attack. A castle has stood here since at least the 13th century. The building you see today is mostly Renaissance, dating from 1570.

Its best-known story is about Erazem of Predjama, a 15th-century knight who fell out with the emperor and held out here under siege. According to the legend, he was supplied through a natural shaft behind the castle that led out to the top of the cliff. You can see that passage on the visit.

How the visit works

You go round the castle at your own pace, using an app included with the ticket or a rented audio guide. The route climbs through the rooms and up into the cave behind them, with a lot of stairs. It isn't suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. A separate tour of the cave under the castle runs only in summer, because bats hibernate there the rest of the year.

Getting from the cave to the castle

• Shuttle: in high season (late June to the end of September in 2026), the park runs a shuttle between the cave and the castle for people with a combined ticket. The ride takes about 20 minutes and the fare is paid in cash on the bus.
• Car: there's a paid car park at the castle
• Tour: most tours from Ljubljana and the coast cover both sights. See below.

The park recommends seeing the castle in the morning and the cave in the afternoon. See tickets for the combined option.