Ruin

Celje Castle

The ruins of Slovenia's largest castle on a hill above Celje and the Savinja, seat of the powerful Counts of Celje in the 14th and 15th centuries.

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Celje Castle
Photo: Smihael · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Ruin
Origins
1322 · 14th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
Location
Savinjska, Slovenia
Coordinates
46.2197°, 15.2717°

History

The castle on the hill above the Savinja was probably built in the 13th century by the Counts of Heunburg, and in the first half of the 14th century it passed to the Lords of Sanneck. In 1341 Emperor Louis the Bavarian made them Counts of Celje, and in 1436 Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg, husband of Barbara of Celje, raised them to princes of the Empire. The family became one of the most powerful in Central Europe – Anna of Celje was the second wife of the Polish king Władysław Jagiełło. When the last count, Ulrich II, was murdered in Belgrade in 1456, the Habsburgs took over the estates. The abandoned castle decayed and was used as a stone quarry; since the 1970s it has been gradually restored.

What to see

The extensive ruins occupy a ridge on the south-eastern edge of the town, with views over Celje, the Savinja valley and the surrounding hills. The defensive walls, some of the buildings and Frederick's Tower, which visitors can climb, have been restored. A footpath and a road lead up from town, and in season the courtyards host knights' tournaments, craft demonstrations and concerts.

Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q3355366

Popularity: articles about this site in 14 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).