Lipnica Castle, Castle ruins in Zgornja Lipnica, Slovenia.

Lipnica Castle, also called Deserted Castle above Lipnica, is a ruin above Lipnica Creek near Zgornja Lipnica in the Municipality of Radovljica. Its core is a massive Romanesque palacium, likely built in the 12th century, whose walls remain visible among the overgrown ruins.

The castle was first recorded in 1263 as Castrum Waldemberch and served as an administrative center for the Ortenburg nobility. It remained under their control for centuries, managing their territorial holdings in the Upper Carniolan region.

The castle's literary life began with Valentin Mandelc's robber novella Tihotapec, written in 1855 for the student manuscript magazine Vaje and counted among the first original longer Slovene narratives. Josip Lavtižar published a historical novel set at the castle in 1939, and Polona Škrinjar later wrote the play Pusti grad.

The ruins stand above Lipnica Creek near Zgornja Lipnica, in the Municipality of Radovljica. The site is unmaintained, with uneven ground and exposed stone; wear sturdy shoes. There are no facilities or marked trail from Radovljica in the sources, so plan your own route and carry water.

The castle fired the imagination of Slovene writers: Valentin Mandelc set his 1855 robber novella Tihotapec here for the student manuscript journal Vaje, one of the first original longer Slovene narratives. Josip Lavtižar followed in 1939 with a historical novel on the castle, and Polona Škrinjar wrote the play Pusti grad.