Vipava Castle, locally known as Stari Grad, which translates to "Old Castle", lies on a spur of the mountains north of the town of Vipava in Slovenia, north of the Italian city of Triëst. The castle is also known under its German name Alt Wippach, as Wippach is the German spelling of Vipava.

Vipava Castle was most probably built in the 12th century by the Patriarch of Aquilea. A knight Wiluiuns de Wippach is mentioned in 1154 but the castle itself is not mentioned until 1275 under the name "castrum Wipaci superioris" which translate to Upper Vipava Castle.

The Knights of Vipava ruled the castle until the mid-14th century. The next two centuries the castle changed hands very often. Amongst its owners were the Knights of Rihemberk, the Šneperskies from Snežnik, the Habsburgs (in 1344), the Weissenfelsers (called Belopeški in German), the Counts of Celje and in 1487 the Herberstein family.

For a short period in the first half of the 16th century, Venetians occupied it, but the Habsburgs soon drove them away. After 1577, it belonged to the Lanthieri Counts, who stopped using it in the 17th century when they build their palace in the town below. Since then it has been falling to ruin.

The ruins show that the castle had an rectangular groundplan with two palaces and a mighty keep.

The historical info above, was all that I was able to find. If you know more, please mail me.

Today, it is a popular walking spot for local people and other visitors, because you get a beautiful view of the whole Upper Vipava valley. Walking from Vipava to the castle takes approximately 30 minutes. It can not be reached by car.

Back to top.