Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

SLOVENIA 427

. White Passage
One among a series of
chambers collectively known
as Beautiful Caves, the White
Passage is crammed with
impres sive stalag mites
and stalac tites.

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST

53 km (33 miles) S of Ljubljana.

£ from Ljubljana. @ from

Ljubljana. n Jamska Cesta 9,

Postojna, (05) 720 1610. http://www.

tdpostojna.si. # July & Aug:

tours hourly 9am–6pm; May, Jun

& Sep: tours hourly 9am–5pm;

Apr & Oct: tours at 10am, noon,

2pm & 4pm; Jan–Mar, Nov–Dec:

tours at 10am, noon & 3pm.

& 8 0 - =

http://www.postojna-jama.si

The Vivarium

The caves are the natural

habitat of this rare worm-

like amphibian, known as

the human fish. It can be

seen in the Vivarium,

where visitors can learn

about species of the

underground world.

. Concert Hall
Visitors finally emerge into the Concert Hall, a vast space
where orchestral performances are occasionally held,
before returning by train to the cave entrance.

Big Mountain
This 45-m (147-ft) high rocky
mound was created when
the ceiling collapsed.
Predjama Castle, built into a natural
rock arch on a hill slope

Predjama Castle 3

Predjamski grad

50 km (31 miles) S of Ljubljana.

@ from Ljubljana. # Jan–Mar,

Nov–Dec: 10am–4pm; Apr & Oct:

10am–5pm; May, Jun & Sep:

9am–6pm; Jul & Aug: 9am–7pm. &

• _ Erasmus Jousting Tournament
  (Aug). http://www.turizem-kras.si

There are few fortresses

more dramatically situated

than Predjama Castle, which

stands halfway up a hillside

at the mouth of a cave. The

site was fortified as early as

the 13th century. How ever,

most of what remains today

is the result of a 16th-century

reno vation by the then owner

Ivan Kobencl.

The castle museum has

several fascinating rooms

con taining period fur nishings

and weap onry. Several exhibits

recall its 15th-century owner

Erazem Lueger, a Robin

Hood figure who, according

to legend, was killed by a

cannon ball that hit the

castle. Inside the chapel is

a delicately carved Gothic

pietá dating from 1420.

Steep passageways

descend into the Cave below

the castle, an interesting,

atmo spheric underground

chamber that can be visited

only by guided tour.

T Cave

& 8 May–Sep: 11am, 1pm,

3pm & 5pm daily.

http://www.turizem-kras.si