From a distance, it seems that the castle is part of the mountain.
In Slovenia, not far from the city of Postojna, lies Predjama Castle – the largest cave castle in the world. It was built right into a rock 123 meters high, partially using a natural cave, so from a distance it seems that the castle is part of the mountain, writes startlap.hu.
The uniqueness of Predjama Castle is not limited to its unusual facade. The natural caves and passages behind the castle are part of the fortification itself. They served as both protection, a retreat route, and a connection to the outside world.
This played an important role in the legends about the castle’s most famous inhabitant – Erazem Jamski.
When the enemies besieged the castle, Erasmus, according to legend, received food through secret passages inside the mountain. The besiegers believed they had completely cut him off from the outside world.
According to legend, he even taunted his enemies by sending them fresh food from the castle. In this way, Erasmus allegedly demonstrated that, despite the siege, he and his men were not starving.
The legend of Erasmus ‘ Betrayal
The end of this story is already less like a fairy tale. According to legend, the besiegers couldn’t do anything to the castle, which was considered impregnable, for a long time — until one of Erasmus’s servants revealed its weak point.
The servant allegedly signaled to the enemies while the knight was in the castle’s latrine, which was less well‑defended. Then the besiegers fired a cannon at the building, and Erasmus died.
How much of this story corresponds to reality is hard to separate from legend after centuries. At the same time, secret passages under the castle do exist. Official tourist resources in Slovenia also mention the hidden passages through which, according to legend, Erasmus obtained food during the siege.
Internal features of the castle
In Predjama Castle, it is particularly noticeable how the artificial walls blend with the natural surface of the rock. In some rooms, the cave wall is effectively the wall of the castle itself.
The exhibition features weapons, armor, and other items that help to imagine what life in a castle was like a century ago.
At the same time, the castle’s romantic appearance can be misleading: in such a fortress, safety was more important than comfort. The rooms carved into the rock could be cold and damp, but the location of Predjama Castle provided exceptional protection.
Under the castle, you can go down into a cave.
Beneath Predjama Castle lies a system of caves inhabited by a colony of bats. Therefore, it can only be visited during the warmer months – in winter, the cave is closed so as not to disturb the bats during their hibernation.
Predjama Castle itself is open to visitors all year round, including on holidays. The operating hours vary depending on the season, so it’s worth checking the current schedule on the official website before your trip.
A visit to Predjama Castle can be combined with a trip to the Postojna Cave.
Predjama Castle is located approximately 9 kilometers from the Postojna Cave, so it’s convenient to visit these two attractions in a single day. During the high season, a transfer bus runs between them, and the journey takes about 20 minutes.
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