Žusem Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Municipality of Šmarje pri Jelšah, Slovenia

Žusem Castle is a ruined castle on a conical promontory above the settlement of Dobrina pri Žusmu, southeast of Šentjur in the Municipality of Šmarje pri Jelšah, Slovenia. Built in the early 13th century and abandoned around 1781, only ruins remain, with traces of walls and the former castle chapel.

The bishops of Krško built Žusem Castle on land granted to their monastery by Countess Hema in 1043. The castle is first mentioned indirectly in 1203 through the knight Poppo de Suzzenheima and explicitly as a castle in 1364. The Žusem knights held it as a fief until 1481, while the Counts of Celje held it in 1364–1404 and 1437–1456. It was abandoned around 1781.

The ruins show how medieval castles protected the surrounding villages and reveal the defensive methods people used at that time. You can still see today why this hilltop location was chosen, as it gave inhabitants a clear view of approaching danger.

The ruins stand on a conical promontory above the Dobrina settlement, southeast of Šentjur in the Municipality of Šmarje pri Jelšah. The site is reached on foot over rough ground, so sturdy shoes help. The castle was abandoned around 1781, and only ruins remain, so plan the walk as a short hill excursion rather than a formal visit.

The Žusem knights held the castle as a fief of the bishops of Krško until 1481, but the estate passed by pledge: Andrej Žusemski mortgaged the castle and lordship to Count Friderik II of Celje in 1437 for 2,000 pounds. In 1550 Franc Altenhaus received castle and lordship in a lifetime pledge for 4,700 guilders.