# Kalec Castle

- **Country:** Slovenia
- **Coordinates:** 45.641536, 14.245694

Kalec Castle, known historically as Kalc, Kauc, Steinberg, or Stemberg, is a partially ruined fortress located in the settlement of Bač within the Ilirska Bistrica municipality of Slovenia. Perched on a slope called Breg near the source of the Pivka River at an elevation of 618 meters, the structure was originally constructed from limestone. Although specific architectural blueprints are lost to time, the castle was built in the mid-17th century by the noble House of Steinberg. Its historical prominence was solidified when it was illustrated in Johann Weikhard von Valvasor's renowned 1689 work, The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola, ensuring its place in regional documentation.

The site holds significant historical weight due to its diverse ownership and role in turbulent times. Following the Steinberg family, the castle passed to the Auersperg principality and later to Miroslav Vilhar, a distinguished Slovene composer who ultimately died within its walls. After World War I, the last residents abandoned the property, leading to its gradual decay into the ruins seen today. Despite its dilapidated state, the castle served as a clandestine meeting point in 1941 for TIGR, an antifascist militant group resisting occupation during the Second World War, adding a layer of modern resistance history to its medieval origins.

Currently, only a single tower and fragments of the original walls remain intact amidst the overgrowth. The ruins are enveloped by a small grove of ancient linden trees, while the approach to the site is famously lined with a row of chestnut trees. Today, the location is not inhabited but serves as a historical landmark accessible via the Krpan Hiking Trail, which passes directly beside the remnants. Visitors can explore the atmospheric site where nature has begun to reclaim the stone structures, offering a quiet reflection on centuries of noble life, artistic residence, and wartime secrecy in Inner Carniola.

![Photo of Kalec Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/GradKalec1.jpg)

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