Castles and ruins in Karavanks

This collection spans the border region of Slovenia and Austria, featuring significant medieval fortifications and noble residences. Highlights include the extensive ruins of Celje Castle, once the seat of the powerful Counts of Celje, and the well-preserved Velenje Castle. In Carinthia, sites like Finkenstein and Hollenburg occupy strategic rocky outcrops overlooking the Drava valley. These structures showcase architectural evolution from Romanesque foundations to Gothic and Renaissance expansions, reflecting centuries of regional power struggles and defensive history.

Castles and Ruins — Map

andrej hrovat / CC-BY-SA

A

Celje Castle

Celje Castle, also known as Celje Upper Castle or Old Castle, is a castle ruin in Celje, Slovenia, formerly the seat of the Counts of Celje.

Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 4.0

B

Burgruine Finkenstein

Finkenstein Castle is a ruined medieval castle in the market town of Finkenstein, in the Austrian state of Carinthia.

Mihael Grmek / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Kamen Castle

An impressive ruin situated on the foot-hills of the mighty Slovenian Alps. A great sight surely worth visiting.

Zeberus / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Burgruine Federaun

Burgruine Federaun is a castle in Carinthia, Austria.

Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0 at

E

Burgruine Straßfried

Burgruine Straßfried is a castle in Carinthia, Austria. It is located next to the Austrian–Italian border by Arnoldstein in Carinthia.

BSonne / CC BY-SA 3.0

F

Burgruine Rosegg

Medieval ruins dating back to the late 12th or early 13th century, situated on a hill near Rosegg.

Johann Jaritz / CC BY-SA 3.0 at

G

Schloss Rosegg

Schloss Rosegg is a castle in Rosegg, Carinthia, Austria. Schloss Rosegg is 478 metres above sea level.

H

Burgruine Sonegg

Burgruine Sonegg is a castle in Carinthia, Austria.

Hubertl / Public domain

I

Velenje Castle

Velenje Castle is a well-preserved castle in Velenje, Slovenia that was owned by the Kunšperk family, followed by their relatives and the…

Marko Pernhart / Public domain

J

Schloss Hollenburg

Schloss Hollenburg is a medieval castle near Köttmannsdorf in Carinthia, Austria. It is on a rock of the northern slope of the Drava valley.

Georg Matthäus Vischer / Public domain

K

grad Pakenštajn

Ruins of a medieval castle located near the town of Šoštanj in Slovenia.

Georg Matthäus Vischer / Public domain

L

Grad Konjice

Ruins of a 12th-century hilltop castle overlooking Slovenske Konjice, featuring a Romanesque core with later Gothic and Renaissance additions.

Kaiser / Public domain

M

Zbelovo castle

Remains of a 13th-century fortress located on a ridge above the Polskava valley near Poljčane.

N

Grad Altgutenberg

Ruins of a 12th-century castle near Tržič, also known as Hudi grad, originally built to control the trade route over the Ljubelj Pass.

O

Stari/Goležev grad Vitanje

Ruins of a 12th-century medieval fortress in Vitanje, formerly part of a strategic defensive network.

Other Lists

Karavanks Must-Sees Majestic Peaks and Alpine Huts Significant Religious Sites