KULKUL MOMENT: The Ljubljana Castle and the delicious Tower Cake
It could be said that in Ljubljana all roads lead to the castle. Visitors to Ljubljana absolutely cannot escape the charm of the picturesque promenade on the castle hill, which, in the end, rewards them with the most beautiful view over the city of Ljubljana, from the top of the highest tower of the castle, 400 m above the level of the sea.
© Peter Irman
Meet the symbol of our city
In the very heart of Ljubljana, just a stone’s throw from the bustle of the city center, a medieval fortress perches atop a hill. Ljubljana Castle: an instantly recognizable symbol of the city that throughout the year offers countless adventures, exhibitions, and cultural events within the shelter of its medieval walls, or invites us to dive into the rich history of the city. Outside the castle walls, a new world opens: in the shade of spreading trees you can discover the many architectural and historical monuments on Castle Hill and enjoy unique views that have long inspired artists, including the great architect Jože Plečnik, who in the 1930s converted a former bastion into a popular promenade known as Šance (from Schanze, a German term for a fortification of this type). The area has recently undergone a full renovation (completed in 2018).
Castles have traditionally afforded the best viewpoints and Ljubljana Castle is no exception. But the path up to Ljubljana Castle does not only lead you to the best view, but it is also a route to wonderful food and wine experiences in the castle itself. And what better way to embellish – or rather sweeten – such an experience than with Ljubljana’s most castle-like treat, the Tower Cake? Another castle-related experience in which the cultural and the culinary come together for a "KulKul moment".
© Peter Irman
In 2015 the master pastry chefs of the Kaval group created the Tower Cake, named after Ljubljana Castle’s own tower, to commemorate the centenary of the City of Ljubljana’s purchase of the castle from the Austro-Hungarian state in 1905. Their masterful confection offers a sweet gastronomic experience of Ljubljana in which sponge, cinnamon cream, and a dash of Dolenjski sadjevec (GI) fruit spirit are combined with seasonal apples from Ljubljana’s orchards.
What will you see from the castle tower?
Our tip: After visiting Ljubljana Castle and its tower, from where you can enjoy the best view of Ljubljana, treat yourself to a legendary castle treat: the Tower Cake. You can find it in Grajska vinoteka in hram, Lolita (Cankarjevo nabrežje), Lolita (Eipprova ulica), and the magical Vrt Lily Novy.