Abandoned Castles Of The World: Predjama Castle In Slovenia
loveslovenia/InstagramThe 700-year-old Predjama Castle is certainly beautiful, but it has a violent past.
Hailed as the largest cave castle in the world, Predjama in Slovenia might also be one of the most haunted castles. Embedded into the surrounding environment’s natural stone cliffs, this castle is clearly an architectural marvel. But it also has a sordid past.
Predjama Castle is almost seven miles away from Postojna, a town in the country’s southwestern territory and is thought to have been built sometime in the 12th century, though there is no historical reference of it until 1274.
Legend has it that the castle came under siege by a robber baron named Erazem Lueger, a sort of Robin Hood figure who was said to steal from the rich and give to the poor. But he apparently went too far when he launched an attack against Predjama’s royal occupant.
After slaughtering the palace’s owners, Lueger and his family moved into it in the late 15th century. There, he and his family holed up as if they were royalty themselves.
Predjama is the largest cave castle in the world. pijo_309/Instagram The castle is located near Postojna, a town in the country's southwestern territory. It was originally occupied by the Habsburg Monarchy.Postojna Cave Park website Postojna Cave Park website Predjama Castle came under siege by armed forces twice. First by robber baron Erazem Lueger and then by Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, who wanted to take the palace back from Lueger.Postojna Cave Park website The caves underneath the castle are 200 feet deep.Wikimedia Commons Postojna Cave Park website isaxophone11/Instagram Erazem Lueger was able to sneak past Ferdinand III's siege through these extensive tunnels.Postojna Cave Park website Shadowgate/Flickr The castle has now become a tourist attraction and houses the belongings of the robber baron and his family. Postojna Cave Park website
Explore Predjama Castle View GalleryHowever, the robber baron's arrogance soon got the better of him. As it turned out, the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III was related to that nobleman Lueger had murdered. As fate would have it, Lueger found himself trapped inside Predjama Castle under siege by the emperor's forces.
Fortunately for the baron, the castle had access to secret underground tunnels, which allowed him to sneak in and out of the castle and into nearby towns for supplies. Lueger resisted the emperor's siege for a year and a day, but finally met his end by cannon fire. Lueger was reportedly betrayed by a servant — and killed while using the bathroom.
The cave around Predjama Castle is the second longest Slovenian show cave with four separate levels which are all interconnected, except for Erazem's Nook and the baron's secret passage on the top floor. Sections of the abandoned fortress are partially accessible to the public today.
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