# Strmol Castle

- **Country:** Slovenia
- **Coordinates:** 46.263964, 14.478606

Strmol Castle is a historic fortress situated at the foot of Dvorjanski hrib near the villages of Češnjevek, Grad, and Dvorje within the Municipality of Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Slovenia. Uniquely, it is one of the few castles in the country to have retained its original Slovene name throughout history, derived from the Strmol family who built it. First mentioned in the 13th century, the structure stands as the sole survivor among twelve medieval manors that once dotted the region. Architecturally, the castle centers on a towering keep with a late medieval core, which was later expanded through Renaissance and Baroque renovations. The main building is encircled by a low, rectangular defensive wall featuring square corner turrets, remnants of a past era when a drawbridge and moat protected the estate.

The castle holds profound historical significance marked by both cultural richness and tragedy. Its interiors remain richly furnished with historic art and furniture, yet its modern history is shadowed by the events of January 1944, when the owners, Rado and Ksenija Hribar, were abducted and murdered by Partisans. Following the war, the communist government confiscated the property, but after a long legal battle initiated in 1992, the castle was finally returned to the heirs in 2004. In a somber resolution, the remains of the murdered couple were discovered in 2015, more than seven decades after their deaths.

Today, Strmol Castle has been repurposed as an official guesthouse and conference site for the government of the Republic of Slovenia. The grounds include a picturesque park established in the late 17th century, which originally featured orchards and fishponds. Although only one pond remains, the landscape retains its historic walking paths and a walled courtyard adorned with Baroque statues by Angelo PuttaPozzi. These decorative elements, including figures of Atlas, were relocated from another manor in the 1960s, adding to the site's artistic heritage while serving as a backdrop for its current diplomatic functions.

![Photo of Strmol Castle](http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Strmol%20Castle%20HDR-3.jpg)

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