Considering Green Slovenia is so beautiful, it is very handy there are lots of different fantastic towers here to help you enjoy the views!

Our own fascination with the towers here in Green Slovenia started with a fairy tale tower, just 15 minutes away from the Lodge..

It is just so picture perfect and we could totally believe this is the original tower that Rapunzel was imprisoned in and gazed out of the window at the top with her long blond hair hanging out.. so we call it Rapunzel tower! (A lot easier to say and remember than "Ravbarev Stolp", as it is locally known!

Rihemberk castle has been beautifully restored in parts to allow access to this magnificent tower..

Partly due to Slovenia's central European postion, towers have played an important part in history here.. They are the perfect places to watch out for invading armies, smugglers or to light warning fires as signals and take refuge inside..

There are also some more modern towers that have sprung up here too, but don't forget that in Green Slovenia, it is the numerous stunning mountains and ancient trees that are the real skyscrapers here! 

So grab your hard hat & binoculars and let's go explore just a few of the special towers not to miss in Green Slovenia..

Rapunzels Tower.. (15 mins from the Lodge)..

If ever one tower could be the true Rapunzels tower, then this is surely the one! It is one of the very many secret places in Green Slovenia where the locals have not yet woken up to the value of Green tourism, as you CANNOT even go up this tower to see the sensational view that soldiers used to have over the forest and Planina disappearing lake!

there is something magical about this hidden tower..

And there is another of Slovenia's fantastic secret show caves here too, called Planina cave, it is full of Baby dragons and the only showcave in Europe where two rivers crash together to form one mighty river.. this river also goes on to create the Planina disappearing lake!

So it is well worth a trip here to stroll around in Green paradise, visit the lake and the cave and at least imagine how this imposing tower might have inspired the legend of Rapunzel!

Black Pond (Crni Kal) Tower.. (25 mins away)..

More imagination is required at Black Pond tower cos it has mostly crumbled away, but the unbelievable sensational location and view here will totally make up for it..

sensational views over the Slovenian coastal hinterland from this crumbilng tower on top of a cliff stack..

This watch tower was built on top of a huge cliff stack hanging off the massive Karst cliffs that end here, so you need to cross a terrifying 10 metre long metal bridge is required to access the old tower..

This tower was principally a watch tower in case of Ottoman raids and the views are nothing short of ubersensational, you can see all across Slovenia's Mediterranean coastal hinterland and even out towards the bay of Trieste in neighbouring Italy!

Considering how close this tower is to a motorway junction, it is also really easy to jump off on the way to the coast and come up here for the view and to imagine what it must have been like when this tower was in it's pomp!

Climb the Venetian church tower for a stunning view across Piran..

Piran Tower.. (45 mins away)..

There are a lot of lovely views around pretty Piran on the Slovenian coast, but you get a terrific view of the terracotta roofs and blue sea from the top of the Venetian church tower high above the town..

Just walk up from Tartini square in the centre.. sunset is a particular treat and don't forget to look back inland to the first big lump of rock you can see, which is Nanos.. the mountain in our back garden.. you will be amazed how close it all seems!

There is a lovely little secret back door sea promenade walk to Piran from nearby Fiesa and the final steps up into Piran will lead you directly to the church tower..

Kalc tower is an historic centre where supporters trying to save the Slovenian language demonstrated..

Kalc Tower near Zagorje.. (25 mins away)..

If we had to recommend a building to draw or paint for an art class then it would be Kalc tower..

This pretty little restored tower is hidden away in the mini region of "the Pivka 17 Disappearing Lakes", a stunningly beautiful green rocky Karst paradise, littered with those 17 different sized, but interlinked lakes..

It is a totally unknown mini region in Green Slovenia for tourism and you could hike around here for days without seeing anyone..

But like so many unspoiled, secret natural treasures here in Slovenia it is also so easy to reach if you only knew it was just a few minutes off the main road from Europe to Croatia that comes down from Lipizzaner Lodge & Postojna towards Rijeka!

Also around here is the ruin of a massive castle (Silentabor), high on a hill to climb and try to spot some of the 17 disappearing lakes.. there is also a huge Karst cliff face, a very, very secret and much smaller "Predjama style mini castle" built into that same cliff, (oh yes) and of course, the beautiful Kalc tower..

So why not bring your painting sticks here and have a relaxed day out in Green nature.. 

Rihemberk Castle tower.. (40 mins away)..

We were very excited to visit another secret Slovenian castle not so far from the Lodge and very surprised to find out the tower here is the tallest castle tower in Green Slovenia!

crazy view down the empty tower at Rihemberk..

The castle and the tower are absolute beauties! They have been lovingly restored by locals and currently open on weekends.

The castle is huge and there are lots of medieval stone cranneys and nooks to explore, but of course the tower is the centrepiece of it all.

The tower is empty inside, but you can climb up the spiral staircase on the side to get a floor by floor eirie view inside the tower.

It is something we have never seen before and the space inside this tower is huge and fantastic, either if you look up from the base or down from the top.. the enclosed stonework is formiddable.

There are fantastic views from the battements at the top out to the Italian Dolomites, the Vipava Valley and over the Teran Kras wine region.. 

Indeed, this fantastic castle tower looks out over THREE different Slovenian wine regions!

stunning view from the top of the tower at Rihemberk castle..

Ribnica Tower of Torture.. (60 mins away)..

The castle in Ribnica has mostly gone, but the front facade with this tower remains, overlooking the beautiful Ribnica river with the 4 arched Napoleon bridge..

a witches drowning casket hangs outside the Ribnica tower of torture in the old town centre..

The tower is one to promise the kids a look inside as it is stuffed full of witches cauldrons, nik naks and medieval methods of torture.. there is a fantastic witches cage dangling outside the tower, which really brings it home how little chance any poor woman had to survive if she was dunked in the river after being accused as a witch!

Ribnica is yet another of those sensationally quiet places to visit in the middle of Green nature where there will be absolutely no other tourists and if you visit here, we hope you make time to go find the stunning source of the Ribnica river up in the forest hills and also buy a few handmade wooden or pottery local souvenirs from the nearby handicraft centre..

Brezice Water Tower.. (90 mins away)..

Only 90 minutes from the Lodge in an eastern direction and you are already at Brezice on the border with Croatia, less than half an hour from Zagreb.. 

But do stop off here in this strange looking town with a pretty old high street, a castle and a big pink tower!

The good news is the tower is being restored inside and will be open soon to go up for the view, so we can't tell you exactly what you can see from up there.. but we sincerely hope you will get to see a bit of Croatia, maybe the point where the stunning river Krka ends it's momentous 95 km journey through Slovenia and crashes into the bigger Sava river and also hopefully also the Mokrice castle near the border, where the Pet Shop Boys filmed one of their music vids!!

Another fantastic reason to stop off here is to try the tasting menu at Debeluh restaurant at the very end of the high street.. just one of the really phenomenal restaurants we are lucky enough to have here in Green Slovenia!

Neboticnik tower, central Ljubblyjana.. (35 mins away)..

This art deco style tower was once the highest building in old Yugoslavia, but don't go trudging around central Ljubljana looking for a skyskraper, cos you will miss it.. do look up to spot the stunning glass balcony which wraps around the top of the tower and then you will know you are here..

go to the busiest street you can find in Ljubljana, look up and here is the Neboticnik tower..

It's a great way to get a castle high view of the cutest capital city in Europe.. what's more, there is a fantastic art deco cafe at the top, which you can reach with the lift inside the tower..

The views are 360 degree over the only real city in Slovenia, the coffee and cakes are great and you must take a trip out to the toilet too, so you get to see the amazing circular wooden staircase..

Koper tower.. (30 mins away)..

In many ways this is a better example of a Venetian tower than at Piran, but with different views over Koper old town, the biggest cargo port in Slovenia, (not so pretty) and the stunning bay of Trieste.

This tower sits in a beautiful St Peter's style square in the centre of Koper old town and you can see this high tower from the coastal motorway, so easy to find.. it marks the centre of what used to be a completely seperate island in Roman times!

Tree Top tower walk on Mt Rogla.. (120 mins away)..

We fondly describe this tower as a multi storey car park on top of a beautiful green Slovenian mountain, but don't be put off from visiting here by our cheekiness, the views are great!

you get to slide down the middle of this tower on nothing more than a rug!

The tower is the centrepiece of the new "Tree Top Walk", on top of the 1,500m high Rogla mountain plateau, so you can expect excellent views and lots of educational fun for the kids walking high up in the trees here..

You absolutely must do the rollercoaster helterskelter ride down a big metal tube from the top of the tower.. it is over in seconds, but is really, really good fun and you may have heard it here before, but the Rogla mni region is yet another beautiful secret place here in Green Slovenia, packed with little surprises to fit into your day out in Green nature..

Vinarium tower near Lendava.. (2 hrs 30 away)..

Probabubbly best to go up this over 50m high tower in the middle of a wine region before you try the local wines!

a big twiglet tower in the sky on top of a hill at Lendava..

There is a lift or stairs and this is a genuinely pretty metal tower with views over 4 countries, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria and Hungary! (Not many towers around in the world where you can see four different countries).

We have been up this tower now and the tower itself is fantastic, but for once we were a little underwhelmed with the overall "package" available to tourists by way of info, price experience etc..

So rare negative advice here for this website, but we ALWAYS keep the interests of visitors to Green Slovenia as our TOP PRIORITY.. we would ONLY tip this tower as an add on if you have time on a daytrip to see other stuff, like the stunning mini wine region of Jeruzalem and Ormoz, in case the underwhelming tower package would disappoint you!

Gonjace tower in Kojsko (GoricaHills).. (50 mins away)..

A much closer wine region to the Lodge is the Goriska Brda (Gorica Hills) wine region, with vineyards scattered over the Gorica hills and this tower offers a fantastic way to see the little picturesque villages that dot the rolling hills here..

The tower was built as a memorial to those lost in WW1, but you can climb it for the view and see the Italian Dolomites, several Slovenian Alps, the Vipava valley and even to the coast and the Gulf of Trieste.

This is one of those places where you can drive around the wiggly country roads and suddenly see a sign for Slovenia.. which means you were in Italy, but you didn't even realise!

This is such another different and beautiful mini region where Green Slovenia gets our first cherries of the season from and some very high quality unique wines too! Go for the local Rebula!

Kubed.. the tower of 5 walls.. (30 mins away)..

You don't have to take the busier main roads to get down to Istria & Croatia and if you want to visit Buzet, a stunning, quiet hilltop Istrian village with great restaurants and views over a very unbusy border crossing.. but on the way, please do also stop off on the Slovenian side at a church tower with 5 walls!

You need to walk around the tower to count all the walls and make sure there are 5.. and you can find it, high up in the little village of Kubed, which was protected with an old castle, now crumbled..

Take a good look at the tower and you can see a door half way up where the locals climbed up to on a ladder during a Turish attack and then pulled the ladder inside.. clever!

There is a fantastically beautiful country route from the Lodge via Hrastovlje Medieval Fortress Church, then the 5 walled tower at Kubed, then a very quiet border crossing to Croatia AND Buzet hill top village and only then do you pop out nicely at the top of the Istrian peninisula.. if you know about this secret route to Buzet and want to really enjoy your day travelling, then this could be the way to go!

the last remaining defensive tower in pretty Vipava old town..

Trbovlje Chimney.. the tallest chimney in Europe.. (80 mins away)..

At 360 metres high, this is the highest chimney in Europe and fortunately for Santa, it belongs to a decommissioned power station, so is sitting unused.. 

The chimney was built to filter gas away from the huge Sava river and the valley below, so is actually quite hidden away..

We have yet to visit, but there are now several climbing routes up it.. we have seen some terrifying vids on You Tube, but as long as you do it safely, this would be yet another amazing activity and view across Green Slovenia.. we will report back!

Celje Castle tower.. (80 mins away)..

A monster castle on a hill on the other side of the Savinja river.. Climb the big metal steps up the imposing castle tower to the stone battlements for a fabulous view of the Celje old town and surrounding mountains and a beautiful sunset.. don't miss it!

the majestic royal tower is the centrepiece of Celje castle..

In the tower basement there is another gruesome torture exhibition and this castle was home to Slovenia's last royal family.. the castle has recently been renovated and there is a fantastic cafe modern cafe, merged into the castle walls with a huge open glass window.. we love it!

And here are some examples of extra special, smaller wooden viewing towers with fantastic vistas..

Cerknica Lake.. (25 mins away)..

There is a new viewing tower at Cerknica lake, which is the biggest disappearing lake in Europe.. 

sparkling new wooden viewing tower over part of the biggest disappearing lake in Europe at Cerknica..

It is part of a stunning new network of signs and nature paths to help you explore and enjoy this unique lake and it is just the kind of thing that we think Slovenia needs to be doing more and more to showcase the incredible Green nature here..

The Magical Mountain Ponds.. (2 hours away)..

You know you have reached the final mountain top plateau that sits on Rogla mountain, over 1,500m up when you get to the pointy wooden viewing tower.

view over the magical mystery mountain pond plateau from the little wooden tower..

It all looks very nice and the view that you will see from here is so special it is impossible to describe in words.. But we will try.. You will be looking out over an army of dwarf pine trees as far as the eye can see up here on top of the mountain.. there is a wooden boardwalk leading off into this forest and maybe you will see some people standing around in the middle of this green scene.. utterly fascinating and the view from this tower demands you go and explore further!

When you do, you will find something else quite unexpected.. hidden away in all these mini trees is a little network of ancient jet black magical mountain ponds.. wow!

Mozirski Gaj Gardens.. (90 mins away)..

There is a lovely tower inside a park where lots of different Slovenian gardening ideas are exhibited in mini showcase displays..

This is a fab place to stroll around, get some gardening inspiration and tranquility and if you climb the wooden viewing tower it provides another angle over so much of the park..

You also get to see what a lovely location the Mozirski Gaj Garden Park is in, nestled next to the beautiful Savinja river with the green rolling mountains flanking this quite undiscovered mini riverside region..

viewing tower in the centre of the Mozirski Gaj garden park..

Breaking News.. A new viewing tower will be built in the far south East of the country, we won't write the name of the place, cos it is unpronounceabubble, but it is a wine region and very beautiful.. First impressions of the tower make it look like a giant wine glass or maybe a tulip.. we will let you know how it shoots up and flowers!!

There are no end of other towers in castles and churches in all shapes and sizes all over Slovenia with spectacular views, so we hope this little towering section will help you identify some secret places and some great places to admire Green Slovenia from!