The castle view
Red rooftops and the river valley below the walls.
Petar Milošević — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ajznponar — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jorge Franganillo — CC BY 2.0 · Matjaž Mirt from Krško, Slovenia — CC BY 2.0 · Matjaž Mirt from Krško, Slovenia — CC BY 2.0
Loka Castle stands on a plateau above the town of Škofja Loka, where the Poljane Sora and Selca Sora rivers meet, west of Ljubljana. You can spot its pale walls and red roofs from a long way off above the old town, and it now houses the Loka Museum. It was first mentioned in 1202, starting out as a square tower that gained an enclosing wall in the 13th and 14th centuries. The seat of the Loka lordship moved here in 1270 from an upper tower on Krancelj Hill. The earthquake of 1511 destroyed that tower outright and badly damaged the castle, which was rebuilt between 1513 and 1527 on the orders of Bishop Philip and thoroughly renewed again in the early 18th century. From the courtyard you look across the town's rooftops, its church tower and the river valley, and inside are the rooms of the museum covering local history. Afterwards it is worth heading down to the old centre, where Town Square and Lower Square sit on the river terraces. The castle lies about 19.6 km from Ljubljana in a straight line, an easy half-day trip from the capital. The climb from town is short along a paved path, so comfortable shoes are enough. Krancelj Hill rises behind the castle for anyone who wants a short walk among the trees.
Red rooftops and the river valley below the walls.
Rooms on local history inside the castle.
Two squares on the river terraces below.
Grajska pot, Škofja Loka, Slovenia
Yes, it is about 19.6 km away in a straight line, and half a day covers it along with the town.
The 1511 earthquake destroyed the upper tower and damaged the castle, which was rebuilt soon after.