Višnja Gora Castle, Castle ruin in the Municipality of Ivančna Gorica, Slovenia

Višnja Gora Castle is a ruin situated on elevated ground above the medieval town of the same name, roughly 20 kilometers southeast of Ljubljana. The stone remains reveal the structure of a former fortification that once controlled the valley and surrounding lands.

First recorded in 1154 as castello Wichselberg, the castle was the ancestral seat of the Višnja Gora lords, a family documented from 1136. After their extinction in the early 13th century it passed to the Andechs, Babenberg and Spanheim families; in 1250 Ulrich III of Spanheim handed it to the Patriarch of Aquileia. The Habsburgs sold it to the Counts of Celje before 1386, and in 1573 Archduke Karl sold it to Count Jurij Khisl. Abandoned in the 18th century, it was quarried by townspeople for building stone.

The ruins remain connected to local traditions and show how people used this place as an important center over many centuries. Visitors today can sense how the castle shaped the identity of the town below.

The tourist center in Višnja Gora town can provide guidance on how to reach the ruins. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the terrain is uneven and some paths require careful footing.

The ruin sits at the start of the Jurčič Trail, a walking path that leads through the historical landscape of the region. This route connects several places of local importance and allows walkers to explore the area's past on foot.