Europe · Slovenia · Inner Carniola
Predjama Castle
The story
History of Predjama Castle
Wedged into the mouth of a 123-metre cliff above a cave system, where the rebel knight Erasmus held out for a year against siege.
Slovenia · Inner Carniola · Renaissance
- Built
- from 1274
- Era
- Medieval
- Style
- Renaissance
- Country
- Slovenia
- Region
- Inner Carniola
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 45.815, 14.127
In depth
The fuller history
The castle was first mentioned in 1274 with the German name Luegg, when the Patriarch of Aquileia built the castle in Gothic style. The castle was built under a natural rocky arch high in the stone wall to make access to it difficult. It was later acquired and expanded by the Luegg noble family, also known as the Knights of Adelsberg (the German name of Postojna).
After the siege and destruction of the original castle, its ruins were acquired by the Oberburg family. In 1511, the second castle, built by the Purgstall family in the first decade of the 16th century, was destroyed in an earthquake. In 1567, Archduke Charles of Austria leased the castle to Baron Philipp von Cobenzl, who paid it off after 20 years. In 1570, the current castle was built in the Renaissance style, pressed next to a vertical cliff under the original medieval fortification. The castle has remained in this form, virtually unchanged, to the present day.
Key dates
- 1274The castle was first mentioned in 1274 with the German name Luegg, when the Patriarch of Aquileia built the castle in Gothic style.
- 1511In 1511, the second castle, built by the Purgstall family in the first decade of the 16th century, was destroyed in an earthquake.
- 1570In 1570, the current castle was built in the Renaissance style, pressed next to a vertical cliff under the original medieval fortification.
- 1810In 1810, the castle was inherited by Count Michael Coronini von Cronberg, and in 1846 it was sold to the Windischgrätz family, who remained its owners until the end of World War II, when it was confiscated and nationalized by the…
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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