Turjak Castle, Medieval castle in Velike Lašče, Slovenia
Turjak Castle is a medieval fortification set on a wooded hill in the Municipality of Velike Lašče, Slovenia. It has a triangular layout that connects three defensive towers with residential buildings added during different building phases.
The Auersperg family established a fortification at this site in the early 13th century, replacing an earlier structure from the 11th century. Over the following centuries, the castle changed hands several times and was rebuilt after damage from fires and raids.
During the Protestant movement of the 16th century, scholars gathered here to work on translating religious texts into Slovenian, helping to shape the written form of the language. Visitors can walk through the same rooms where this work took place.
The castle sits on a hillside and is reached by a footpath through woodland, so sturdy footwear makes the walk more comfortable. The site is in a natural setting, and the path can be uneven in places, especially after rain.
The name comes from the Slovenian word 'tur', referring to the aurochs, a large wild cattle that once roamed the forests of this region and has since gone extinct. This link to a vanished animal makes the castle's name a rare linguistic trace of the old landscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
