Sevnica Castle, seven centuries above the Sava valley

Seven hundred years of history

Visit Sevnica traces its origins to the 12th century and its first written mention to 1309, as Castellum Lichtenwald. Posavje.com says work to strengthen it began in the early 16th century and that the major rebuild came at the end of that century, when Baron Moscon bought it. The tourist office calls it one of the best-preserved castle buildings in Posavje.

What the guided tour covers

Inside, visits are guided only; the guide waits at reception in the Albert Felicijan Hall, left of the entrance. One room shows a short film about Sevnica and the castle’s history. Then come the baroque salon with period furniture, corridors with grotesque ceiling paintings, the dining room hung with the coats of arms of visiting castle owners, the white wedding hall and the tower, with a painting of the four seasons from around 1730.

There’s also a collection on schooling in the municipality, with a century-old classroom, and a fire brigade collection. In the courtyard you’ll find a wishing fountain and a granary selling local produce, where staff will advise you on herbs too. Another room has a model and a film of the Ajdovski gradec site.

The secret Lutheran chapel

The Lutrovska klet was built at the end of the 16th century as a secret Lutheran chapel and keeps Renaissance frescoes on its vaults and walls. Visit Sevnica says Jurij Dalmatin (1547-1589), the first translator of the Bible into Slovene, often went there, and calls it the southernmost Protestant chapel in Europe. It’s part of the castle’s guided route and now hosts cultural events thanks to its acoustics.

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The blaufränkisch vineyard and cellar

Since 2007, 500 blaufränkisch vines, a native Slovenian variety, have grown on the southern slope. In the cellar and wine shop you can taste the castle’s own blaufränkisch, such as Grajska kri and First Lady, alongside wines from other local producers. The tourist board adds that a descendant of the oldest vine in the world, the one at Lent in Maribor, grows in the vineyard.

Opening times and fitting it in

Between April and October it’s open Tuesday to Friday 12:00-18:00, with tours at 12:30, 14:30 and 16:30, and at weekends and on holidays 10:00-18:00, with an extra tour at 10:30. In March, November and December it opens on fewer days, and it’s closed in January and February. There are night tours with Countess Mathilde too.

Two hours cover the castle and the cellar. If you like castles in Slovenia, Rajhenburg Castle is downriver and easy to see the same day.

So you do not lose the morning at the ticket office, browse tickets and tours in Sevnica Castle on GetYourGuide.

If you are staying the night, see the best hotel deals in Sevnica for your dates: the well-placed rooms go fast.