# Celje Castle

- **Country:** Slovenia
- **Coordinates:** 46.219722, 15.271667

Celje Castle, also known as Celje Upper Castle or Old Castle, is a historic ruin situated on three hills to the southeast of Celje, Slovenia. Overlooking the meandering Savinja River and the Laško valley, this site was once the largest fortification on Slovenian territory and served as the prestigious seat of the powerful Counts of Celje. Although the earliest written references date to the early 14th century, the first fortified structures, including a Romanesque palace, were established in the first half of the 13th century by the Counts of Heunburg. The original design utilized natural stone outcrops for defense, featuring thick curtain walls and large internal water reservoirs that characterized ministerialis castles of the era.

The castle holds immense historical significance as the center of power for the Lords of Sanneck, who later became the Counts of Celje. Following acquisition in 1333, they transformed the military fortress into a comfortable official residence, adding notable structures such as the four-storey Frederick's Tower around 1400 and a tall residential tower on the eastern courtyard side. The complex also included a main residential building with dedicated quarters and Andrew's Tower, named after its ground-floor chapel. Despite suffering damage during medieval conflicts between rival noble families, the site remained a symbol of regional authority until the lineage of the Counts died out, after which it acquired the designation Upper Celje.

Today, Celje Castle exists as an extensive ruin currently undergoing restoration efforts to preserve its legacy. While the western section containing the main palatium remains in a state of disrepair, the eastern residential tower and Frederick's Tower stand as the best-preserved elements of the complex. Visitors can explore the remnants of the inner and outer wards, observing how the entrance was strategically moved to the southern side over the centuries. As a former epicenter of Slovenian nobility, the castle offers a tangible connection to the region's medieval past, blending natural defensive geography with significant architectural evolution from Romanesque origins to late Gothic expansions.

![Photo of Celje Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Celjski%20grad%20s%20Pe%C4%8Dovnika.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celje_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)