Gutenberg Castle-Bistrica, Tržič

Route Description

The Gutenberg Castle is the perfect location for a nice family trip. The path is a bit steeper at the beginning, but the ascent is short and easy enough for younger children. The view and the castle atmosphere at the top outweigh all the effort. We brought a snack with us, and despite the winter fog in the city of Tržič, the sun greeted us cheerfully. Satisfied with the company of birds and no other people, we decided to return to this newly discovered trip pearl.

Access point: The only thing that bothered us a little was that the access itself is not well marked and we had to find out about the exact location from the locals. You can quickly miss the macadam road, which turns sharply in the right direction towards the castle. The easiest way to find the right turn is to drive from the direction of Tržič, ascend towards Bistrica, and follow the otherwise poorly visible blue sign "Pod gradom".

Koordinates for parkig lot next small chapel: 46.360769591741615, 14.288488860669919

You can leave the car right next to the macadam path or continue climbing on the narrow trail to the left until you spot a little chapel. Follow the forest path between the chapel and a house for five more minutes until you arrive at your destination. If you turn right at the chapel, you arrive at the well-known Villa Bistrica, which is closed for visitors since it is privately owned. Standing above it is the beautiful St. George Church, which is also worth seeing.

For all the history lovers, here are some fun facts.

The Gutenberg Castle belongs among the oldest Slovenian castles. It is mentioned for the first time in 1156. It was accessible from the east, where a tower and a deep moat protected it. In 1396, the castle was the main Counts of Lamberg residence. The first Ljubljana bishop, Count Žiga Lamberg, was born here in 1420. In the 15th century, the building was severely damaged by the Turks and was not rebuilt after the 1511 earthquake. The Counts of Lamberg then moved their seat to the nearby Glanz Castle. The Gutenberg Castle stands on a hill overlooking the ancient path that connected Friuli and the Gorizia statistical region through the Poljane Valley, Tržič and Ljubelj with the Carinthia statistical region. The castle is poorly visible from down below due to the hill on which the previously mentioned St. George Church stands. For more info about town Tržič visit web page: VISIT TRŽIČ.