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We Visited a Castle in the Balkans That's in the Guinness Book of Records: Jackie Chan Almost Left His Bones Here Too
I don't know how fascinated Jackie Chan was by Predjama Castle when he traveled through parts of former Yugoslavia in the mid-80s and filmed scenes for the famous movie Armor of God. I don't know how much he inquired about the history of this building and whether he exclaimed 'Really?' upon hearing that the Slovenian Robin Hood was killed here... What I can guess is that the castle captivated him enough to film key scenes for the movie here and he almost got into trouble during the process, and what I know for sure is that you absolutely must not skip this location if you find yourself in Slovenia.
TL;DR
- Predjama Castle is recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest cave castle in the world.
- The castle has a history of over 800 years, with its construction beginning in the 12th century.
- It was a filming location for Jackie Chan's 1986 movie 'Armor of God,' where the actor narrowly avoided injury.
- The castle is intrinsically linked to the legend of Erazmo Predjamski, a 15th-century knight known as the 'Slovenian Robin Hood,' who used its secret passages to evade capture and supply the castle.
- Erazmo was betrayed and killed in a particularly bizarre manner after a year-long siege.
- The castle's design incorporates natural cave systems and tunnels, which were crucial for defense, hiding, and access to resources like water and hunting grounds.
- Visitors can explore various chambers, including historical living quarters, a medieval kitchen with a natural refrigerator, a courtroom, a torture chamber, and a natural chimney system.
- The castle's construction and subsequent modifications over centuries reflect its strategic importance and the lives of its inhabitants, from the Kobenzl family to the Windischgrätz family.
- The castle offers stunning views from its terraces and a unique perspective on medieval life, blending natural formations with man-made structures.