Tivoli Castle, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Tivoli Castle is a mansion located in the Ljubljana's Tivoli Park. In the early 15th century, a tower stood in the woods above the site; it was owned by Georg Apfalterer, an ally of Duke Frederick (later Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III). The tower was destroyed by Frederick II, Count of Celje in 1440.

The current structure was built in the 17th century atop the ruins of a previous Renaissance-period castle, the mansion was initially owned by the Jesuits, but came into the possession of the Diocese of Ljubljana following the 1773 suppression of the Jesuit order. Used as the bishop's summer residence, it was surrounded with orchards.

In the mid-19th century, it was bought by the Austrian emperor Francis Joseph I, who in 1852 presented it as a gift to the veteran Habsburg marshal Joseph Radetzky. Radetzky renovated the mansion in the Neoclassical style, giving it its present appearance, and spent much of his retirement in it with his wife Francisca von Strassoldo Grafenberg, a local Carniolan noblewoman.

The field marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz (1766–1858) contributed a lot to the arrangement of Tivoli Park. There was a full-size cast iron statue of Radetzky on display in Ljubljana on the steps in front of Tivoli Castle from 1882 till 1918. In 1851, it won a prize at the Great Exhibition in London. Today, it is preserved by the City Museum of Ljubljana. The statue's pedestal, however, remains at its original place.

In 1863, the mansion was bought by the Municipality of Ljubljana, who used it as (among other things) a poorhouse, later subdividing it into condominiums. In 1967, it was again renovated and became the venue for the International Centre of Graphic Arts.

In 1864, the Austrian sculptor Anton Dominik Fernkorn created four cast iron dogs, still on display in Tivoli Park in front of Tivoli Castle. The dogs do not have tongues, and it has been falsely rumoured that Fernkorn committed suicide by shooting himself due to this mistake.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

K Elf (4 months ago)
We didn’t go into Ljubljana Castle, but we definitely enjoyed the view of it from afar. Sitting high up on the hill, it’s hard to miss, and it adds a lot of character to the city’s skyline. The castle itself looks impressive from the outside, with its medieval architecture and panoramic views of Ljubljana. It’s a major landmark, and the area around it is perfect for a scenic walk. Even though we didn’t explore the castle interior, the sight of it perched above the city was still a highlight of our time in Ljubljana. I’d love to come back and check it out properly next time.

Chaeeun Isabella Shin (4 months ago)
Awesome place for sightseeing! I went on a little pathway to hike up there- beautiful! Lots of trees and nature, nice place for a little walk

Aleksey A. (7 months ago)
Visiting Ljubljana Castle was a fascinating experience. The highlight for me was the 4D video with full immersion and storytelling—it was absolutely captivating and brought the history of the castle to life in a unique way. I was completely drawn in by the visuals and sound. The view from the tower was also stunning and added a perfect ending to the visit. Overall, a truly memorable experience!

Tamika Green (8 months ago)
Can walk or take the funicular up to save your legs. “Entrance fee” to the castle is only for a 4D (children’s) history of the castle, some smaller exhibits and the clock tower. Should you want to save some € just make your way to the top, walk around the grounds and still get a good view over the old town.

Bob Rodgers (8 months ago)
A beautiful castle that sits on a hill overlooking the city. We purchased a combination ticket for both the castle and funicular, then took the quick funicular ride up to the castle. Lots to see and explore, including towers, restaurants, and a wine bar/cellar with outdoor seating that has a great view of the city.

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