Southern Slovenia Highlights: Postojna Cave, Predjama Castle & Piran
Overview
The south and south west of Slovenia are home to some exquisite highlights: the underground karst caves of Postojna, the Predjama Castle imbued into the side of a 123m vertical cliff and the Venetian architecture of the port side town of Piran. This post is designed to showcase the most beautiful regions south of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana. They can be reached by a day trip or for those desiring additional relaxation, I’d recommend staying in Piran, a resort city on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast. The scenery you will pass along the way is divine. It includes alpine forests, castle ruins, running streams and indescribable natural Slovenian beauty.
These places within Slovenia are best reached by first arriving in Ljubljana (by air or coach). From here you can either booking a day tour or hiring a car. See here for the best things to see and do in the capital city of Ljubljana and for more information on arrival logistics. I have also written about another unmissable trip from Ljubljana to Lake Bled, Bled Castle, Bled Island, Triglav National Park, Vintgar Gorge, & Lake Bohinj, in the north western corner of Slovenia.
Highlights
Hošperk (Haasberg) Castle Ruins
Postojna Cave
Postojna Castle Ruins (Adelsberg Castle)
Predjama Castle
Visit Piran
Lunch in Piran
Piran Old City Walls
Piran’s Tartini Square
Discovery walk through Piran: Old City Architecture, Beach, Mermaid Statue, St George Cathedral, Campanile
Hošperk (Haasberg) Castle Ruins
En route to Piran, you’ll have the opportunity to stop by multiple Slovenian castle ruins. The first of these is the enchanting Hošperk Castle, once a mighty Baroque castle rising above the canyon of the Unica River. Nestled on the southern edge of the Planina Plain, this castle was built at the beginning of the 17th century by the Princes of Eggenberg. At the time, it was considered the grandest Baroque castle in Slovenia and was famed for its lavish interior and beautiful surrounding park.
The last owners of Hošperk Castle were the Windischgrätz family, who purchased it in 1846. Sadly the castle was burned down in 1944 during the Second World War, decimating the valuable interior, the Windischgrätz family archive and the family tomb.
Today, visitors can see the remaining castle structure, including the old stables and a mystical walled grassy courtyard.
Postojna Cave
Ever wanted to take an electric train through an underground cave?!
One of Slovenia’s greatest tourist attractions is the 24 km long karst cave system near Postojna, Slovenia. It is the second longest cave system in the country and the only place in the world where the underground landscape can be traversed on an electric train.
The cave was created by the Pivka River and guests can meet its famous inhabitant, the proteus (olm or aquatic salamander) up close. The train takes you through a fantastic web of tunnels, passages, galleries and halls and past astonishing karst features.
Visitors can see 5km of the cave on 1.5 hour tours, of which the train covers 3.2km. It has a constant temperature of 8°C to 10°C and 95% humidity, so its worthwhile taking a warm jacket and closed shoes!
Postojna Castle Ruins (Adelsberg Castle)
Close to the Postojna Cave are some lesser known ruins that are perfect for the outdoor hikers out there! The hill that rises up above Postojna is called Sovič and at its summit are the ruins of Postojna (Adelsberg) Castle. Starting from Majlont or Čukovca, the walk takes about 20 minutes and the views across Postojna at the top are brilliant. It also has one of the entrances to the Postojna Cave.
Predjama Castle
The next stop on your journey towards Piran after Postojna Cave & Castle is Predjama Castle, one of the most striking visual treats in Slovenia.
For 800 years, this picturesque, magnificent and mysterious castle has been remarkably perched in the centre of a vertical cliff. It ranks as one of the ten most fascinating castles in the world.
Situated in the idyllic village of Predjama, it’s not hard to see why this is such a popular location for couples to tie the knot!
Further enhancing its beauty is the Lokva River below, which disappears into the underground world deep below the castle, which is also home to a bat cave. Predjama Castle is the only preserved cave castle in Europe. It is also the world’s largest cave castle, an excellent example of man’s work intertwined with nature’s creativity.
The Legend of Knight Erazem (Erasmus) of Predjama – who died on the dunny!
Predjama Castle was a safe harbour for people in the middle ages. Its most famous and notorious owner was the rebellious robber baron Erazem of Predjama. During a siege that took place in the 15th century, the castle provided a refuge for him and his men. The rebellious Knight Erazem withstood the imperial army’s siege of the castle for over a year. The courageous Erazem remained undefeated in this castle until one of his servants betrayed him. It is said that Erazem died by a shot from a cannon whilst seated on the toilet, in a less well protected zone of the castle! The traitor had alerted the enemy as Erazem dashed across the small courtyard to the lavatory!
The famous legend of Erazem is an indispensable part of the castle’s story and visitors will be inspired and allured by his tale.
Below: small windows showcasing the vast reach castle inhabitants had whilst under siege
Predjama Castle has served as the filming location for some major motion pictures…
Visit Piran
Slovenia has just 47km of coastline on the Adriatic Sea but it certainly makes the most of it!
Piran is a resort city within Portorož on Slovenia’s Riviera, known for its long promenade and medieval Venetian architecture with narrow streets and compact houses. Affectionately termed the ‘pearl of the Slovenian coast’, it is one of the three major seaside towns of Slovenian Istria, overlooking the Gulf of Trieste. The other two towns are Koper, with its medieval core and Izola, known for its great restaurants.
Visitors looking for an upbeat atmosphere will love Piran during the summer, from May to September. You’ll find clean beaches, boats for rent and rollicking bars. However, note of warning that the city is incredibly overbuilt and tourists are jammed within the walls during this time. For those who value solitude and peace, I’d recommend the nearby hinterland. Here you’ll find locals still going about their daily life.
Keep reading for my suggestions in Piran!
Lunch in Piran
Tasting the local food and wine in a traditional Istrian village is a must while in Piran, Slovenia!
We had a delicious local lunch at the romantic Boem Restaurant in the tiny village of Beli Kriz, Piran. The taverna is situated high on a hill overlooking lush forest and the glistening sea. We were welcomed by friendly staff and seated at tables on a raised outdoor terrace in the warm sunshine. It was a moment of perfection as a glass of refošk red wine and grilled seabass arrived before me. Savour a moment on your trip to take in the fresh air, inviting aromas, beautiful vistas and gentle breeze at this remarkable locale in Piran, Slovenia.
Piran Old City Walls
Significant parts of the fortification walls in Piran, Slovenia, remain well-preserved. Visitors can pay an entrance fee to walk along the narrow top, opening up some incredible views over the old city of Piran below.
Piran’s Tartini Square
Tartini Square in Piran is one of Slovenia’s most impressive squares. It is named after the famous composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini and his majestic bronze statue can be seen in the square.
Guests can visit the frescoed house where he lived and admire one of his violins. The square is also flanked by a Gothic red Venetian House, the Municipal Palace, Maritime Museum, outdoor cafes and a mélange of buildings of varying architectural styles. The 19th-century town hall has a stone lion, a symbol of the former Republic of Venice.
Today it is a large meeting place for locals and tourists alike, where small boutique shops and stalls sell tourist goods and local arts and crafts.
Discovery walk through Piran:
Old City Architecture, Beach, Mermaid Statue, St George Cathedral & Campanile
Piran is much more than food and a square however! Allow an afternoon to wander around this gorgeous city, amongst the narrow streets, Venetian palaces, seaside promenade and hilltop views from St George Cathedral and Campanile.
Discover the Piran Promenade & Mermaid Sculpture
On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than starting your walk along the promenade with a home-made icecream from a local street vendor!
The walk will take you to the lighthouse and around the peninsula with some stunning views of the harbour, its old fishing boats. You’ll also find some quaint sculptures created by artists invited to chisel the seaside stone. The most iconic of these is Piran’s Mermaid sculpture.
Climb up to St George Cathedral
At the end of this is a steep rise which will take you up to the Church of Saint George, home to 17th-century paintings and marble altars. You’ll also find an interesting statue of St George in battle with a dragon, as well as the Piran crucifix which dates back to the 14th century. Note that entry is via payment to the Parish Museum of St George. Otherwise you’ll be viewing these antiquities through a fence!
The views of the Alps and Adriatic Sea are absolutely stunning at the top and on a clear day, you can see all the way to the Gulf of Trieste, the Julian Alps and even the Dolomites.
Climb the Piran Bell Tower (Campanile) for soaring views
In front of the St George Church is the famous Piran Bell Tower of Slovenia. It stands at 46 metres high and climbing its 146 steps should definitely be on your list of things to do in Piran!
The Piran Bell Tower is a smaller scale copy of the San Marco Campanile in Venice
At the top of the Bell Tower are 4 bells and a copper weather vane in the form of the 3.6m tall Archangel Michael. Guests will pay €1 to adventure through narrow staircases to reach the top. The bells ring every 15 minutes! A sensational 360 degree panorama greets visitors at the top, with almost birds-eye views across the old town and Tartini Square. Climbing the Campanile is not to be missed!
Admire the Venetian architecture of Old Town Piran
Once you’ve finished snapping some incredible pictures at the top, take your time wandering back down through the narrow streets and continuing to admire the unique Venetian architecture of the Old Town.
Drive back to Ljubljana via Koper & Izola seaside towns
If you’re driving back to Ljubljana from here, be sure to take the short detour through the other seaside towns of Koper and Izola for some final moments of Istrian magic.
