After the nearby Dobrča (1634m) named Gutenberk castle belongs among the oldest Slovenian
castles. It is mentioned for the first time in 1156 when Cisterians from Vetrinje gave
domino Alberoni de Guotenberg to Alberon from Gutenberg and his sons five farms
near Vipava, but explicitly as a castle in 1330 (Dušan Kos), when Carinthian duke Henrik
presented it to Peter from Liemberg for formal residence and to take care of by castle's
feudal law. It should be noted here that the year 1187, when the castle was supposedly
mentioned explicitly for the first time (castrum Gutenberc), is not recognized by
historian Dušan Kos and explains that in this case it is about the castle in Styria with
the same name. Žontar assumes that Gutebergs were ministerials of Andechs, even if the
place of the castle was probably in possession of Brixens. As witnesses accompanied by
lords of Andechs, Gutenbergs are mentioned until 1228, but already in the mid 13th century
they are one of the most important ministerials of Spanheim. In 1330 when the Gutenbergs
were already vassals of Ortenburg, mentioning of a castle as vest ze Guotenberch
is encountered. From the second third of the 14th century they are ministerials
of provincial prince and at the time they also with their original name used nickname
Cepel (Zaeppel) which can be afterwards found many times in documents. As the last owners
in 15th century Valvasor mentions Lambergs who received the fortification
together with purchase of Tržič, which got its borough tight in 1444 by emperor Friderik III.
on initiative by the owners of Tržič at the time (Lovrenc Paradajzar from Neuhaus castle and
heirs of Janez Lamberg from Gutenberg castle). After the earthquake in 1511 the castle was not
reconstructed anymore by its owners Lambergs. In 1557 they arranged by permission from king
Ferdinand to transfer the name to a younger castle Glanz (Slatna pri Begunjah) which now had the
name new Gutenberk. The old Gutenberg was now finally abandoned.
First bishop of Ljubljana, Žiga noble Lamberg, was born on the castle which had a name "Hudi grad"
("Bad castle") among people and in folk tradition the story about a bewitched daughter of the
castle Gutenberk has preserved.
According to Ivan Stopar the ruins of palatium and the tower could be dated to 13th century
but by I.Jakič in the Gothic era (after the year 1300).
Because the way to the ruins is not marked anywhere this will guide you there.
The ruins can be accessed from two directions. The first one if from Tržič the other from
Begunje. From direction Begunje turn left at the sign "vila Bistrica", drive up on the
good macadam road pass the quarry to the chapel (image on the right). From direction Tržič
drive up towards Bistrica and follow the sign "Pod gradom" to the right. Continue ascend
on a narrow road to the left, until you see a chapel (image on the right). Forest path
between a chapel and the house will take you to the castle moat in five minutes, and
near the moat a path to the ruins is located. Once the castle was accessible from the east
where th entrance was protected by a rectangular tower and a deep moat.
More about Gutenbergs can be found in a book by Dušan Kos titled Vitez in Grad,
where also genealogy table can be found.
I'm grateful to Sara L. for corrections.
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Literature: |
Stopar, Ivan, Dr.: "Grajske stavbe v osrednji Sloveniji - Gorenjska (Ob zgornjem toku Save)", Viharnik, Ljubljana, 1996, ISBN 961-6057-06-5
Kos, Dušan, Dr.: "Vitez in Grad", Založba ZRC, ZRC SAZU, 2005, ISBN 961-6500-82-1
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Western wall closer, when approaching
the ruins
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Castle core, view towards north;
castle was elongated in a shape of irregular oval in direction north-south
and at the same time adapted to terrain
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Remains of the far eastern walls,
probably defence walls
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Judging by castle's ground plan, here is
probably the dividing line between the second and third stage of construction
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Eastern wall winds round the terrain here
in front of the moat; once a keep was located above the moat
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Bistrica nad Tržičem
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J. V. Valvasor,
ruins of Gutenberk castle from southern (eastern?) direction
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