It’s our last day in Slovenia and we are headed to the Predjama Castle and Postojna Caves. The sun is shining and it’s a glorious day!!!!!!! It seems like as if we’ve saved the best for last.
It is 9:45 a.m., and we are the only tourists in sight. What you may not realize about these continual statements regarding the absence of tourists is that we should be seeing Disneyland size crowds in these places. We always choose times and dates to avoid the masses but it’s unheard of to have entire castle complexes to ourselves.
At first glance of the Predjama Castle, we understand why it is the granddaddy of all cliff dwellings. It is now the largest cave castle as recorded in the Guinness World Book of Records.
The main goal in the 13th century was protection and defense, and that continued over the next 500 years. There is a chapel, a torture chamber, tunnels and secret passages, a draw bridge, their very own Robin Hood and everything else you’d expect to find in normal life while living in a castle built in a cave 400 ft high above the ground.
Next stop: The Postojna Caves
Next stop is The Postojna Caves! The second longest cave system in Europe. home to many endemic species, one being the unique albino salamander aka the baby dragon.
They have figured out how to move mass amounts of people through the caves while still protecting the ever-growing stalactites and stalagmites.
A train took us ½ mile underground and walked another ½ mile through the system. These formations have been created over thousands of years; they are difficult to describe. You really have to see it for yourself!
Tonight, we have chosen a hotel that sits high above the city. The winding ride upward is very steep and seems to be taking us to heaven. Our room overlooks the valley and we are once again looking at the exquisite Julian Alps. What a beautiful way to end our tour.
We have experienced many new trails, great food, (really great food), good wine, genuinely warm and inviting people, beautiful scenery, some challenges with mother nature, but we feel we made the most of every single day. We have had a wonderful time, I hope you’ve enjoyed my love notes, and I can’t wait to show you this beautiful country! Please join me in September.
Diana
Love Notes From the Road: Day 4 Exploring Slovenia by Bicycle!