Borl Castle, Medieval castle in Cirkulane, Slovenia.
Borl sits on a limestone cliff above the Drava River and combines medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque features in its design. The building rises in multiple levels, showing a mix of different construction phases in its walls and architectural details.
The castle was built in the 12th century as a Hungarian border post and later passed through several noble families. During World War II, Nazi forces converted it into a prison facility.
The castle displays preserved wall paintings, sculptures, and furnishings that reflect how Slovenian nobility valued art across different periods. These works continue to shape the interior character of the building today.
The site is easy to miss from above since it sits on an elevated cliff, so take time to view it from different angles. A memorial room inside documents the location's wartime history.
The castle sits where the Drava River and Bela stream meet, a location that made it strategically important as an administrative center for a lordship. This position is why powerful families sought to control it across the centuries.
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