Clan Rising
Žovnek Castle today

Slovenia · Partial ruin

Žovnek Castle

Grad Žovnek

Žovnek Castle is a medieval fortress northeast of Braslovče in Slovenia, perched above Lake Žovnek. First mentioned in 1278, it gave its name to the Lords of Žovnek (later the Counts of Celje).

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1400

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1400

What Žovnek Castle looked like in its prime.

Žovnek Castle crowns a wooded limestone hill above Lake Žovnek, its silhouette dominated by a tall cylindrical keep with a steep conical red-tiled roof and a smaller adjoining roofed gatehouse; a long light-grey stone curtain wall runs along the ridge ending in a higher eastern tower whose upper sections later fell to ruin. A timber bridge links a lower outer bailey to the main gate. In its prime the walls and towers were continuous and roofed and the inner ward contained service ranges around an open courtyard.

Its story

The story of Žovnek Castle.

Žovnek Castle stands above Lake Žovnek, north-east of Braslovče in Slovenia. It was first mentioned in 1278 as Castrum Sevnekke, and later as Sannegg.

The Lords of Žovnek took their name from the castle, and it was as the Counts of Celje that the family later became known. The medieval fortress itself survives as a partial ruin on its height above the lake.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1400.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Žovnek Castle, including 1 interior: gatehouse passage looking into the inner ward. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the timber bridge to the gatehouseExterior of the main cylindrical keepGatehouse passage looking into the inner wardOpen inner courtyardWalk along the curtain-wall parapetEastern tower and wall junctionView from the lakeshore looking up

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1400, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Žovnek Castle.

The families that held Žovnek Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Celje

    Eponymous seat of the Lords of Žovnek, the family later known as the Counts of Celje.

Questions about Žovnek Castle

What is the history of Žovnek Castle?

Žovnek Castle’s documented history begins in the 13th century, when it was first mentioned in 1278 as Castrum Sevnekke. It gave its name to the Lords of Žovnek, later known as the Counts of Celje. After the Celje family died out, Habsburg administrators managed it between 1446 and 1600; it was abandoned in 1816 and restoration began in 1993.

What is inside Žovnek Castle / what can you see in it?

Žovnek Castle contains an inner courtyard and surviving castle-core remains, including the remains of the palas. The documented interior view is through the gatehouse passage into the inner ward. The former main building had three ranges enclosing a small inner courtyard, while the castle core is now mostly demolished.

Why was Žovnek Castle built, and what was it used for?

Žovnek Castle was built as a defensible medieval fortress on a hill, protected by its position and three ditches about 9 metres wide. It also served as a residence for the Lords of Žovnek and later the Counts of Celje, who often stayed there. After 1816, it was abandoned and became a ruin.

Which family or clan held Žovnek Castle?

Žovnek Castle was the eponymous seat of the Lords of Žovnek, the family later known as the Counts of Celje. The family took its name from the castle and later inherited Celje after the extinction of the Lords of Vovbrško in 1333. Their administrators managed Žovnek until the family died out.

What did Žovnek Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Žovnek Castle had a tall cylindrical keep with a steep conical red-tiled roof, a smaller roofed gatehouse and a long light-grey stone curtain wall. The wall ended at a higher eastern tower, while a timber bridge connected the lower outer bailey to the main gate. The inner ward contained service ranges around an open courtyard.

Is Žovnek Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Žovnek Castle is a partial ruin, although substantial structures survive on the hill above the lake. The cylindrical keep still stands on the living rock, with walls 3.27 metres thick, and the remains of the palas are well preserved. Restoration of the ruins began in 1993, with the Municipality of Braslovče joining the renovation in 1996.

Where is Žovnek Castle?

Žovnek Castle is northeast of Braslovče, above Lake Žovnek, in the village of Podvrh. It stands on a wooded limestone hill, and the site is in the Municipality of Braslovče. The castle is 5.5 kilometres south-west of Braslovče and rises 409 metres above sea level.

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