Snežnik Castle

Just south of the village of Kozarišče (population 240), in the secluded Lož Valley (Loška Dolina) some 21km southeast of Cerknica, stands 16th-century Renaissance Snežnik Castle. Surrounded by a large and protected park, it is one of the loveliest and best-situated fortresses in Slovenia.

The entrance to the castle, formerly the property of the Schönburg-Waldenburg family, who used what they called Schneeberg as a summer residence and a hunting lodge until WWII, is through a double barbican with a drawbridge and moat. Unfortunately the castle is currently undergoing massive renovations and remains closed to the public.Snežnik Castle's isolation makes it tough to reach by public transport. Without a car, bicycle or horse, you'll have to take a bus from Cerknica to Stari Trg pri Ložu (up to six a day) and walk 4km. Staff at the Hotel Rakov Škocjan in the country park, some 30km to the northwest, can arrange transport to and from the castle.