# Polhov Gradec Castle

- **Country:** Slovenia

Polhov Gradec Castle, also known as the Old Castle, stands as a historic ruin atop Calvary Hill immediately northwest of the town center in Polhov Gradec, within the Municipality of Dobrova–Polhov Gradec in central Slovenia. Originally constructed in the second half of the 12th century by the Spanheim ministeriales, specifically the knights of Billichgrätz, the fortress served as a strategic stronghold for centuries. Its early history involves a succession of notable noble owners, including the House of Gall and the powerful Counts of Celje, before passing to the Habsburgs in 1456 following the extinction of the Celje line. The site subsequently operated as a ducal fief managed by various tenants, such as the Lamberg family, throughout the late medieval period.

The structural integrity of the castle was compromised over time by significant earthquakes in 1348 and 1511, but its ultimate demise occurred in 1514 when it was thoroughly wrecked during a major peasant revolt. Following this destruction, the site was abandoned, and administrative functions were transferred to the lower Polhov Gradec Manor. In later centuries, the ruins acquired new cultural significance when an octagonal gloriette was erected on the grounds. In 1853, Countess Antonia Ursini von Blagay transformed this structure into a chapel, adding fourteen shrines to create a Calvary path. The property was eventually purchased in 1875 by the Urbančič family, local nobility connected to the renowned Slovene writer Josipina Turnograjska, marking the final chapter in its private ownership history.

![Photo of Polhov Gradec Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Valvasor_-_Dvorec_Polhov_Gradec.jpg)

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