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In the parking lot which is the Postojna Cave you can see the directions to a place of unique charm of its kind: Predjama the castle. To get there, there are only nine miles of scenic road that crosses the edge of the Conca Pivka. The road passes through the Karst village of Veliki Otok interesting to reach the Betalov spodmol; here and in other nearby caves were discovered remains of important houses dating from a period ranging from about 150,000 years BC to the end of the Age Stone. This time in the literature called Paleolithic Karst, saw the birth of one of the oldest cultures of southern Europe. A little later, at an intersection, the road joins the "street trees" from that of Slovenia, and Razdrto Planina street leads to the sea. It is part of the road network used, even before the days of the Romans. In medieval times, this road was used to transport the timber from the local Slovenia's Adriatic ports (hence the name of the street). The route climbs to the back of Vrhe flysch of the natural watershed of the rivers of the Adriatic and the Black Sea after a 90 ° bend to the left, if you go in winter, with the trees bare, you can watch a show that is not easily forgotten : in front of you there is a strict opinions medieval castle nestled at the entrance to a cave where access is possible only by the path we are on.

This "nest", recklessly built in a cave in the wall to 123 m high cliff above the place where the river plunges Lokva is a medieval masterpiece of ingenuity, courage, dell'astuzia in disobedience. Opera interlacing millennium of human nature and improvisation in the crucial moments of life. A safe house in a dangerous environment.

At the end of 1990 during the restoration of the castle, in a corner of the cellar was discovered the treasure of the century castle. XVI (preserved in the National Museum of Ljubljana).

The story of this old manor house that borders the legend and always fascinating and epic and goes back many centuries ago. It is assumed that the castle received its original shape in seconds. XII, while the first written docu ments preserved from the second half of the century. XIII.

At first the Castle Predjama had been a stronghold of the patriarchs of Aquileia, but in 1378 became the property of the Habsburgs.

The most famous inhabitant of the castle Predjama, Erasmus Lueger, lived in the second half of the century. XV, in the Renaissance chateau not yet completed. The role of the castle was then decidedly defensive. Living there was not very pleasant, however, was safe. In the struggle between Emperor Frederick III of Austria and king of Hungary Matthias Corvinus, the unique and proud Erasmo sided with the latter. When the emperor beheaded his friend Erasmus had an argument with a relative of the emperor, killing him. To escape the anger of the king took refuge in the castle Predjama and defied the emperor by attacking merchant caravans that passed on the road between Trieste and Postojna. The castle at that time was mainly developed in the cave that opens behind today's construction. The emperor ordered the lieutenant of Trieste, Caspar Ravbar, capture Erasmo. The legend says that the thick blanket of snow, with the help of his followers, Ravbar managed to track him down. Erasmus was besieged for a year and one day attacked by stone balls, but to no avail, the besiegers languished for failure and anger, when Erasmus fell from the walls of roast beef and fresh cherries. The besieged could last long in the cave due to the existence of a higher natural and secret tunnel of 38 meters that allowed residents to go outside a protected forest. Only with the help of camerlango unfaithful, greedy and sequins on the position in the imperial family, he managed to win Ravbar Erasmo. When Erasmus in one evening in 1484 - according to what the historian writes of Carniola Valvasor - went for those needs "that not even the turkish sultan can do it via a messenger," the unfaithful servant gave a signal light to show the direction to the balls in stone. On that occasion the catapults the rider robber took their own lives.

According to legend, the knight on the square Predjama would be buried beside the church of the century. XV, dedicated to Marija Sedem zalosti, now with the restored frescoes is one of the finest examples of late Gothic architecture in Slovenia. On his grave grew a massive lime wood. Legend has it that it was planted to remember him from the beloved of Erasmus. For over a century no one had better care of the castle. Then, for its picturesque location and the security it offered to the residents if they have an interest benzl Ko family. In 1570, John Kobenzl, the imperial ambassador in Rome and later in Moscow, built near the Castle of Erasmus Lueger Renaissance to the present-day castle.

This event is remembered in a carved two dates, 1583, the portal of entry and the other, 1570. on a ro mu of the castle.

In 1810 the manor was inherited by Count Michael Coronini; in 1846 about the castle was bought by the family of principal more than Windischgratz who remained owners until the end of World War II.

In the first century. XVII, the secret exit of Erasmus in a small foiba directly behind the edge of the overhanging wall Predjama was walled up, because the thieves, using this step, entered the castle and took away many precious objects. After the Second World War, the Postojna cave explorers explored and described this rocky tunnel.

Today the castle is managed by Postojnska jama turizem.

At the base of the castle and the cliff above me really feel anything with these feelings and I am about to enter.

The visit is "moving" for the beauty and feel that every time I try along the away, some of which are carved into the rock, in the quiet countryside of Slovenia shall be accompanied by a drip, a trickle that goes on with asymmetrical rhythm of the breath of the earth. Listening to the drops ... the pace and thought is the silent connection with the planet's history of humanity, their intertwining, their inseparability and alliance. I aspire to his breath that reaches me from the ground and from the forests of Notranjska. I let spoiled by modern life to pass the time between sec. XII and the end of the century. XVI, when there were no faucets and electrical outlets. But even then we lived, life was hard, cruel, dangerous but also luxurious, courageous, slow, sinful, but also natural, after all, free! After deep research has tried to rebuild the castle in the form of special features that resembled what was in the Renaissance at the time of its owner Ivan Kobenzl. You tried to define the destination of the original rooms located on six floors.

From the platform before the castle passed to the drawbridge and enter the hall with arches (1), passing through the room the guard right up the stairs leading to upper floors or on the patio (38), in which it was restored the place to tie horses.

the first floor of the Renaissance entrance tower is a local (2) that hosts the presentation of the evolution of the building and drainage works carried out at the castle. In the hallway, in front of Room No. 2, the pulleys are visible chains of the drawbridge.

The tour takes the stairs (3) upstairs in the room (4) also called Erasmus Hall with a large oil painting depicting the knight Erasmus Lueger, the work of Slovenian artist Loj ze Perko, while Boris Kobe oil painted the famous siege of the castle in 1484. On another wall is a painting that dates back to 1757 and is the Windischgratz Joseph Prince, by G. Morzer. On the wall there are also the arms of the House of Erasmus, the family Coronini of Kobenzl and Windischgratz.

In the same room there is also a half-length marble statue of Count Kobenzl of the eighteenth century by the sculptor Oliviero. The accounts mentioned here are Coronini a double half-length photograph of the carved by the sculptor Michael Coronini Nordic B. Thorvaldsen.

It salt the stairs to the attic (6) than in the past was primarily a defensive role. From here

the enemy was attacked with stones, boiling water and cooked pitch. There is also a bed for the guards. It falls on the lower floor and move along the covered balcony (5). Continue through the new drawbridge to the room again at the end of the century. XIX was called the hall of justice (7);

continue into the room adjacent triangular (8) once called the torture room where you can see part of a natural cave (9) that in times of restructuring Castle under Kobenzl probably served as a prison. Hence the scale ladders or steep stairs led to the locations below. To the left along the staircase (10) is the central room - dining room (25). which is accessible from (26) the upper floor, the trek. At the end of the dining room is the kitchen Medieval (27) with fireplace. The tunnel in the middle of the kitchen perhaps served as a transition to stable or in place of defense near the window in the middle of the cliff wall. The tour then takes the third-floor lobby (11) and a small room, the oratory (l5a) to a heated chamber (15) that at the end of the century. XIX was the name of the prince's room, the room more comfortable and safer for the lords of the castle.

Here sat, talked, slept, loved and even sin.

Next to the oratory is the chapel of the castle (16) with side seats and a beautiful new Renaissance Pietà. Directly next to the chapel is the room of the castle chapel (17), in which the latter prayed, wrote a chronicle of the castle and slept (furniture reconstructed). Chaplain's corner of the room is the exit that leads to the gargoyle (l7a) that protected the entrance of the medieval castle. On this floor you can take a walk up the terrace all'altana (12) overlooking the village. The annex to this end terrace is unfortunate that space (13) where Erasmus was struck by the fatal bullet. Above the terrace there is a cave, a natural passage leading to the second viewpoint, former defensive position, surrounded by rock (14).

The tour proceeds to the fourth floor of the castle, for the guests and the servants. Here is the observatory covered with an excellent view of the surroundings of the castle (21), in connection corridor is the bell (18), a complete attic entrance, once it was probably for the body guard the castle (20). Along the same hall are located, one above the other two guest rooms (19) and (22) which hosts various temporary exhibitions.

Next to the tower there is a small square with a walkway through the Qualle you enter the ancient castle Erasmo. At one time there was a drawbridge (23), now they have remained

only wooden pulleys placed at the sides of the entrance in the Gothic style. In the vast Tana Erasmus (Erazmova Luknja) in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries there was a castle (24) of which today remains only an outer wall with a window and a large walled outbreak. Climbing to the top we get to the upper terrace perched on steep steps. Here is a well of 6 meters in depth that collects rainwater from the concretions. The view that can be enjoyed from the window in the rock is remarkable. From the same terrace are also visible ladders which, during the national liberation struggle, the supporters went up to take refuge in caves. There is also the aforementioned vent Erasmo (Erazmoz rov).

And 'This is the most ancient and evocative that develops the whole castle in the heart of the mountain.

It falls on the stairs along the trek (15) and the dining room (25) to the second floor, so long as the tank (28) to the Knights' Hall (29). Since the latter are only two other local interest: the archive for family records (31) and the kennels for dogs Hunting (30), down under the ledge of rock. A plan is extremely important, one could say very masculine. In the women did not enter these rooms.

After all, on the ground floor, in all areas mentioned, there was only the basement of the castle (36), the pantry, and later, down the hall, a classroom, perhaps destined to the dead.

Crossing the courtyard (38) and the vestibule in the tower we leave this wonderful renaissance castle in the rock, enriched by a new experience.

visits to the castle can take place daily at the following times:

January, February, March, November and December from 10 am to 16;

April and October from 10 to 18;

rest of the year from 9 to 19.

Twenty-five feet below the castle open some interesting caves.

Every year in August, before the castle, there is the carousel of Erasmus with great participation of tourists and locals. Knights and appearing to give rise to a lively medieval festival flavor with duels, battles, processions, banquets and more.