Kostel Castle

Perched high above the emerald Kolpa River, Kostel commands the second‑largest castle complex in Slovenia—and the only one still inhabited within its medieval walls. First recorded in 1336 as “Graffenwarth,” the stronghold sheltered noble dynasties, outwitted Ottoman raiders and rose again after being razed in 1809. Today guided tours weave legend and fact, from the Devil of Mikul Peak to a clever ruse that saved the fortress. Explore the “Traces of Time” ethnological display with 160 artifacts, test your wits in an escape‑room game, or picnic in the leafy courtyard before a five‑language film fills in seven centuries of intrigue. From the battlements the Kolpa valley and endless forests unfurl beneath your feet.