Built in the 12th century in Slovenia, Predjama Castle is carved into a 400-foot cliffside with nine miles of complex tunnels beneath it — that once helped a local ‘Robin Hood’ to evade capture.
At the center of a 400 - understructure drop-off in southern Slovenia juts Predjama Castle , fortress built into a mountainside over a complex system of underground caves . Indeed , it is the expectant cave palace in the world — and has stand for over 800 years .
Today , it is an vastly democratic tourist attractiveness where people from all across the world can learn about the palace ’s history , walk through its corridors , and search the expansive Postojna cave system in which the castle is built .
And while the castle itself is a marvellous fairy tale - like wonderment , its history is equally colossal and out of the ordinary .
Predjama Castle is a frotress built within a cave mouth in south-central Slovenia, in the historic Inner Carniola region.
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The Storied History Of Predjama Castle
Though disc of the inimitable Predjama Castle engagement back to 1202 , the most far-famed of its historical inhabitants was the fifteenth - hundred knight , Erazem Lueger — also know as Erasmus of Lueg .
According toLonely Planet , Lueger , much like the fabled Robin Hood , was a legendary robber - top executive , stealing from the wealthy and giving to the misfortunate . When Austria and Hungary went to war during the belated 1400s , it is say that Lueger grade his dedication with the latter .
After a affaire d’honneur against the Imperial Marshal of the Austrian Habsburg Court , Count Pappenheim , Erazem fly to Predjama Castle wherein he expect the inevitable Austrian revenge that would attempt to eviscerate him out .
In the lag , however , he proceed his Robin Hood deeds , sneaking out of the castle through a confidential passage hidden in the sway wall connecting the palace to the nearly nine statute mile of caves behind it .
ItinariConsidered the largest cave castle in the public , Predjama seat atop a complex cavern system that ’s nine nautical mile long .
The Austrians come in 1484 , attempting to put military blockade to the palace — but to no avail .
The rook proved to be heavy , and in a video display of fierce confidence , Erazem stood above the hem in US Army and allegedly showered them with wise cerise from the nearby valley .
Unfortunately for Erazem , one of his servant had taken a disliking to him , and one yr and one day after the Austrian USA began their attack , the servant betray him .
Erazem adventure to the third - base latrine , which sat suspended over a cliff , and just as he was finishing his last bowel motion , a round shot soared through the air and jar with the jakes , kill Erazem as he sit on the toilet .
All it took was his retainer lighting a torch to designate to the Austrian USA where Erazem was .
Legend say that Erazem was then buried in the memorial park of a nearby church service , Our Lady of Sorrows , where a linden tree diagram support to this day .
The Impressive Layout Inspires Fiction
Marion Golsteijn / Wikimedia CommonsA portrait of the knight , Erazem of Predjama — a Robin Hood of his solar day who met an untimely oddment on the toilet .
Naturally , part of Predjama Castle ’s appeal is the large cave organisation that baby-sit behind it , which has been cut up out over the years and inlaid with stair and railing to make the cave system safer to pass over .
This extensive limestone cave system is love as the " Karst " cave , a variation of the Latin name Carsus , commit to the plateau above Trieste .
Modern - day Predjama Castle , while structurally the same as it was during Erazem ’s fourth dimension , serves a very dissimilar purpose .
Visitors exploring Predjama Castle now enter across a lift bridge to the court , with open access to each of the castle ’s corridor and rooms . Back in the day , though , most visitor never made it past the courtroom — and those who did were in all probability unlucky .
A thick wooden door in the courtroom offer admittance the the anguish chamber . While no beleaguering has been lain to the castle in recent years , the nearly six - feet - thick walls digest as a testament to the castle ’s forte . The former barracks inside have been convert into an armoury and museum .
DeAgostini / Getty ImagesEntrance way to Predjama Castle , nestled within the large cave and overlooking a extortionate cliff .
On the third floor of the rook is an open terrace that take into account visitors to look out over the valley and village below . There are also " murder holes " like gun loops and arrow slits — as well as others which were used to pour boiling vegetable oil or liquified rosin onto besieger .
generate the castle ’s prospicient , fabled chronicle and absorbing building , it ’s well-heeled to see why Predjama Castle root on source George R.R. Martin to comprise a similar structure in Game of Thrones ' Westeros after he visited Predjama in June 2011 .
After exploring Predjama Castle , take a face insideDracula ’s infamous castle . Or , explore the history of theCaerlaverock Castle , the mighty Scottish fortress with 800 age of chronicle inside .
ItinariConsidered the largest cave castle in the world, Predjama sits atop a complex cavern system that’s nine miles long.
Marion Golsteijn/Wikimedia CommonsA portrait of the knight, Erazem of Predjama — a Robin Hood of his day who met an untimely end on the toilet.
DeAgostini/Getty ImagesEntrance way to Predjama Castle, nestled within the large cave and overlooking a steep cliff.
