Hmeljnik Castle, Medieval castle in Gorenje Kamenje, Slovenia.

Hmeljnik is a hilltop castle above the A2 motorway in Gorenje Kamenje near Novo Mesto. A stair tower rises above the central section, leading to the upper part of the castle. In the Gothic period a second tower, the east wing and the Chapel of St Pancras were added. A double wall with round watchtowers and a drawbridge over a wide defensive ditch was built during the Turkish raids.

Hmeljnik is first mentioned in 1217, but little is known about its earliest owners. The Hopfenbach (Hmeljniški) lords, its best-known owners, died out in the early 14th century; the estate then passed to Majnclin Turjaški and later the Auersperg family. In 1942 Partisan forces burned the castle after locals had looted it.

The castle displays architectural layers from different periods that tell the story of construction and adaptation across centuries. Walking through the site, visitors can observe how romanesque, gothic, and later styles were woven into the same structure.

The castle stands above the A2 motorway near Gorenje Kamenje. It has a roof but is in very poor condition, and restoration work begun in the late 1950s soon stopped. The site is unprotected and continues to decay, so explore with caution and wear sturdy footwear on the uneven ground.

The Renaissance courtyard arcades were destroyed after the Second World War; only parts have since been rebuilt. The castle was set on fire by Slovene Partisans in May 1942, and locals had looted it completely beforehand. Restoration began in the late 1950s but soon stalled, and the building has stood empty since.