Štanjel Castle Museum

The museum at Štanjel Castle combines the experience of the Karst landscape with the story of the Slovenian language and books. In one place, space, life, and language converge, having co-created the Karst's identity over time.

The Nature and Man in the Karst exhibition offers visitors a sensory experience of the Karst landscape. Touch the karst stone, feel the power of the Bora wind in the wind tunnel, discover the area's unique geological features, and learn how people have adapted to its challenging conditions over the centuries! Collections on the Karst Shepherd dog, archaeological finds from hillforts, and the heritage of the Cobenzl period reveal the richness of the Karst cultural landscape.

One floor above, the Museum of Slovenian Language and Books pays tribute to the Slovenian language by inviting visitors on a journey through its development, varieties, characteristics and distinctive features. Through seven experiences, using modern, innovative, and interactive presentation tools, it tells the story of language and books. The museum also pays special attention to themes such as the development of Slovenian education and the history of the sign language – the language of the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as Braille – the writing system for the blind and visually impaired.

Three panel exhibitions form a special part of the museum: Men of Language, Reformers in Comics and A Kiss with Language. Each exhibition reveals a different aspect of linguistic history: the emergence of the Slovenian language, the Reformation period, and the development of grammars and dictionaries.

The Štanjel Castle Museum is a place where nature teaches, people tell stories, and language connects.