Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle

The cave first, exactly as above, then ten minutes further by road to Predjama Castle — not built near a cliff but directly into the mouth of one, 123 metres of rock rising straight behind it. It survived a year-long siege in the 15th century thanks to a secret passage cut up through the cliff to the plateau above, which let the castle's owner keep smuggling in fresh cherries while the army outside slowly starved. The castle and the cave sell separate tickets, and both are worth seeing properly rather than rushed — we build the driving time around whichever order suits the day, and say which tickets to book ahead when we confirm.

up to 5 h and 150 km