Slovenia · Restored
Bogenšperk Castle
Bogenšperk Castle is a 16th-century Renaissance castle on a low hill in central Slovenia, notable for its association with the 17th-century scientist Johann Weikhard von Valvasor. The fully restored complex contains four connected tracts and towers around an arcaded inner courtyard and now operates as a museum with period reconstructions and collections.
Its prime
1680
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1680
What Bogenšperk Castle looked like in its prime.
Perched on a low grassy hill, the three-story white-plastered castle comprises four connected tracts linking four towers around an arcaded inner courtyard. Roofs are covered in red clay tiles, with a conical-topped round north tower and a taller rectangular south-east tower (at prime taller than surrounding ranges). The main entrance has a small timbered balcony above the doorway; small rectangular windows puncture the plain facades. The building stands on exposed bedrock and has a deep well carved into the rock within the yard.
Its story
The story of Bogenšperk Castle.
Bogenšperk was likely begun by the noble house of Wagen as a replacement for Boltežar Wagen's nearby Lihtenberk Castle, already in disrepair and severely damaged by a major earthquake in 1511. The Renaissance castle consists of four tracts from several periods, connecting four towers around an arcaded inner courtyard; the oldest part is the north tower, originally a standalone fortification, and a deep well is carved directly into the bedrock.
After Jurij Wagen, last of the family, died in 1630, the castle changed owners several times until 1672, when it was bought by the scientist and natural historian Johann Weikhard von Valvasor — a fellow of the Royal Society in London — on his return from abroad. It is for its association with Valvasor that the castle is best known.
Valvasor's family later moved to Krško and the castle again passed through several hands, the last owners being the noble Windischgrätz family, who abandoned it in 1943. A lightning-strike fire in 1759 had earlier damaged the castle badly, and the south-east tower was never rebuilt to its original height. Fully restored, Bogenšperk is now a museum and listed as an important cultural monument of Slovenia.
Step inside
9 places to explore in 1680.
The record describes 9 distinct spots at Bogenšperk Castle — including 4 interiors: arcaded inner courtyard, deep well carved into bedrock, valvasor's study and printing press (reconstructed) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Create History
Recreate Bogenšperk Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1680 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate this castle →Whose castle
Clans who held Bogenšperk Castle.
The families that held Bogenšperk Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
Wagen
Built by the noble house of Wagen in the early 16th century; held until the death of Jurij Wagen, last of the line, in 1630.
Valvasor
Bought in 1672 by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor on his return from abroad.
Windischgrätz
The last noble owners; the Windischgrätz family abandoned the castle in 1943.
