Postojna Caves

The Postojna Caves were first on our visits today. The Postojna Caves are a 24,340–meter (over 15 miles) cave system, first described in the 17th century. We took an underground train for the first 3.5 kilometers (2.17 miles), then walked on a trail for 1.5 km (a bit less than a mile). Photo: The entrance to the caves.

Postojna Caves

You can see the walkway in the photo. In some places, it was steep and there was water on it, but there were handrails to hold onto. No flash photography was allowed in the caves because an aquatic salamander called the ohm resides in them and it is spooked by light flashes.

Postojna Caves Bridge

You can see people walking on a bridge in this photo. During World War I, Russian prisoners were forced to build a bridge across a chasm. This should be the bridge. During World War II, the occupying German forces stored almost 1,000 cans of aircraft fuel in the cave.The Slovene Partisans destroyed the fuel, resulting a 7–day fire and destroying a large section of the cave.

Postojna Caves

The lighting in the cave got better near the end of the trail. There are two other caves that can be explored by more adventurous people. I have put my photos of the Postojna Caves on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/postojna–caves/

(Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Slovenia, “Postojna Caves”).

Postojna Caves–MOVIE

The train that took us to the bottom of the caves and then back up was going too fast to take still photos. On the way back up, I took a movie of our ride. A woman sitting in front of me was also taking a movie and you can see her camera in the movie. Also, you will hear me telling her to duck every so often as there were rock formations hanging so low that if a tall person didn’t duck for them their head could very easily been hit––and very hard.

Also on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hc2HFBr4GPQ

Postojna Caves

It rained off and on today. This photo was taken when we were gathering our lunch items so we were inside. We were very lucky that it wasn’t raining while we were walking outside. Alison, our tour director, told us that there had been much damage from the storm that hit yesterday when we were in Ljubljana, not only in Slovenia but also in other European countries.

Between Caves and Castle

Scenery along the way between the Postojna Caves and the Predjama Castle, our next stop and a short distance from each other.

Predjama Castle

Our next stop was at Predjama Castle that looks almost unbelievable. It is built into a cliff face. This is the third castle built here. The first was destroyed in a siege in the 15th century, and the second, in an earthquake in 1567. The present castle was built in 1570.

Knight Erazem Lueger

In the castle, a painting hangs of lord of the first castle in the 15th century, Knight Erazem Lueger. After he killed the commander of the Habsburg’s imperial army, the Habsburgs went after him. In return, he went after the Habsburg estates and towns and robbed them. People loyal to the Habsburgs laid a year siege against the castle and Erazem, killing him with a canon while he was taking care of bathroom needs. The castle was pretty much destroyed.

Inside Predjama Castle

Mannequins and furniture were placed in several rooms in the castle to illustrate life in the 16th century.

I have put my photos of Predjama Castle on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/predjama–castle/

(Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Slovenia, “Predjama Castle”).

Heading Back to Ljubljana

After visiting the castle, we went back to Ljubljana where we spent the night.