Castle Christmas
The most beautiful view of the festively decorated capital is from the peak of the city. Adorned in its December colours, the Ljubljana Castle’s festive pulse is enriched by a variety of events, nativity scenes, a Christmas Mass and the castle’s Festive Fair in the Castle Courtyard, which attracts visitors with a carefully selected range of hot drinks and culinary delights, as well as Friderik’s festive line of products from the Castle Shop. The December pulse above the city is something special and is an unmissable experience. Capture your memories in the lens of the photo corners, tag us and use the hashtag #castlechristmas.
Castle Christmas. Photo: Miha Mally
Castle Christmas. Photo: Miha Mally
Castle Christmas. Photo: Miha Mally
Castle Christmas. Photo: LC archive
Castle Christmas. Photo: LC archive
Castle Christmas. Photo: Miha Mally
Castle Christmas. Photo: Miha Mally
Castle Christmas. Photo: Miha Mally
Castle Christmas. Photo: Miha Mally
Events
Is there anything better than conjuring up the festive atmosphere for children by viewing a puppet show followed by a visit from Santa Claus, or delighting your loved ones with a UNICEF rag doll from the charity exhibition in the Pentagonal Tower? In the Castle Chapel, which is one of the gems of Europe due to its frescoes, life-size wooden nativity figures are on display during the festive season. On Christmas Eve, the chapel will resound with the singing of Christmas carols and a Christmas Mass will be celebrated. We invite you to visit these and the other events of Castle Christmas.
Various
Castle Festive Fair
from 01. Dec 2023 to 07. Jan 2024, from 12:00 to 18:00 , Castle Courtyard, Ljubljana Castle
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Various
Nativity Scene
from 01. Dec 2023 to 02. Feb 2024, from 9:00 to 18:00 , Chapel of St. George, Ljubljana Castle
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Exhibitions
UNICEF Rag Dolls Have Been Spreading Love for Twenty Years
from 30. Nov to 30. Dec 2023, from 9:00 to 18:00 , Pentagonal Tower, Ljubljana Castle
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Even More Castle Experiences
A visit to the festive castle is also an opportunity to learn about the history of the castle in a slightly different way. Are you game for an original castle adventure, or would you prefer to explore the castle independently with the help of the audioguide? A visit to the Museum of Puppetry is always a special experience for children and children at heart. There is also the climb to the Viewing Tower, which offers the most beautiful view of the festively decorated capital. These are just a few hints – the full range of castle experiences can be found here.
Experiences
Events
The Aroma of Holidays
Treat yourself to a cup of intoxicatingly fragrant coffee or hot chocolate, toast the New Year with sparkling wine from selected Slovenian producers and let yourself be pampered by the castle’s chefs. You can indulge in the aroma and taste of the festive season at the castle’s Festive Fair or in the pleasant surroundings of the castle’s restaurants.
The Castle Café Lolita
At the castle cafe stand, treat yourself to intoxicatingly fragrant coffee or hot chocolate, mulled wine or gin toddy... These are just a few of the drinks that will warm you up on the cold days of festive December. Choose something sweet to go with it, prepared by Lolita’s pastry chefs.
The Castle Wine Bar and Shop
The castle and wine – in coexistence for centuries. The castle residents always drank fine, carefully selected wines. Why should the guests of the Ljubljana Castle be an exception? This is also the case at the stall of the Castle Wine Bar and Shop located on the terrace with a view of the capital, or inside the wine bar and shop itself. Where better to toast the festive season than on the roof of Ljubljana with a selection of sparkling wines from Slovenian producers, perhaps accompanied by a small snack.
You will experience even more culinary indulgence…
... at the restaurant Gostilna na Gradu, where a new culinary experience awaits you every day, and the holidays will be no exception. You can sample contemporary interpretations of typical Slovenian dishes, created especially for you by chefs under the guidance of master chefs Luka Jezeršek and Sebastjan Elbl.
... in the Strelec Restaurant, located in the elegant and original ambience of a medieval tower. Indulge in the pleasure of dishes created by chef Igor Jagodic, who this year received the prestigious culinary award Michelin Star. Treat yourself to a fusion of the past and the present in the culinary field as well.
Take a peek at Friderik’s stall or drop by his shop and delight your loved ones with the chosen festive gift.
Our adorable and good-natured castle chronicler Friderik, who has been living at the Ljubljana Castle for more than five hundred years, has dressed up in his festive outfit! At the stall, he has prepared a festive line of products. His message is: “Delight your loved ones with delicious chocolate lollipops, castle cookies and honey, while adults can also treat themselves to castle wine or some Slovenian brandy, because it’s the festive season after all. In winter, I like to wrap myself in a warm scarf, put on a hat and slip into my Christmas stockings. I have prepared all of this for you, too. So that you can really indulge yourself during the holidays, there is also a book with recipes for castle dishes. Just add my Christmas tree pendant – and the holidays can begin!”
ONLINE SHOP FRIDERIK
If you would like to take a very special memory of your visit to the castle with you, stop by the Castle Shop and discover the new line of castle gifts. A charming illustration reflects the distinctive image of the city symbol on the unique products of domestic manufacturers. Choose one for yourself and another for someone close to you.
For your mother
Enamel Cezve
For your brother
Slippers
For your best friend
Lip Balm in a Ball
For your father
Castle Wine
In the case of bad weather, the offering of food and drinks from the Castle Festive Fair will be available in the Castle Cafe and the Castle Wine Bar and Shop, while the range of holiday gifts can be found in the Castle Shop Friderik.
Welcome to Castle Christmas 2023!
OPENING HOURS
*On 31 December 2023, the Ljubljana Castle, along with all of the castle content and the Festive Fair, closes at 5:00 pm. This is also the time of the last funicular journey.
Merry Christmas from the peak of Ljubljana.
