Khislstein Castle

Khislstein Castle stands on the edge of the old town of Kranj, on the rock terrace above the gorges of the Sava and Kokra rivers, and it is the town's main cultural address. The castle takes its name from the Khisl family, the nobles who built the residence here in the sixteenth century on a site that had been fortified earlier, and the Renaissance structure with its towers and courtyard has kept much of its character despite later alterations and the damage of the twentieth century. Kranj itself has a long history as a regional centre of Carniola, and the castle is a good place to start to understand it.

Today the castle houses the Gorenjska Museum, the regional museum for the Upper Carniola area, whose collections cover archaeology, local history, art and ethnography. Exhibitions trace the development of Kranj from prehistoric and Roman times, through the medieval centuries when it was a trading and fortified town, up to modern industry. The town is also associated with the poet France Prešeren, the great Slovenian poet who lived and worked here as a lawyer at the end of his life and is buried in the town cemetery, so you will find references to him in the museum and around the old centre. The displays change from time to time, so check what is on when you plan a visit.

The castle is also a venue. The courtyard and open-air stage are used for concerts, theatre and festivals in summer, which gives the building an active life beyond the museum. A small cafe in the castle offers a place to sit, with views of the courtyard and over the town's roofs. Opening times and admission arrangements are set by the museum, so check the current schedule before you go, since they differ between seasons and event days.

Khislstein is close to other sights that can be combined on foot. The Kokra River Canyon is a short walk away, the Prešeren Theatre Kranj stands in the old town, and the Gothic Church of Saint Kancijan and Ossuary, also known as St. Kancijan's Church, is nearby with its fine medieval frescoes. The Underground Tunnels, shelters dug into the rock beneath the town in the twentieth century, give a contrast to the castle's elegance.

The castle suits history lovers, families and culture fans, and its position makes it a pleasant stop at any time of year. Allow an hour or two for the museum, and finish with a walk through the old town streets. It is one of Slovenia’s better preserved Renaissance residences.