Embarking on a captivating historical journey, visitors are guided by a castle expert and costumed characters. The adventure begins in ancient Emona, the Roman city that once stood on the site of today’s capital Ljubljana. Before entering the castle – which did not exist during Roman times – you’ll meet a Roman legionary and a priestess. As they share stories of their time, you’ll enjoy homemade sourdough bread and cottage cheese with herbs, giving you a taste of life two millennia ago. The experience is perfectly paired with wine, seasoned in the Roman tradition with condiments such as honey and pepper.

At the present-day entrance to the castle, marked by the Archers’ Tower with its narrow windows for loosing arrows, you’ll be greeted by Knight George (Jurij). This legendary knight is famous for rescuing Ljubljana from a fiery dragon, as well as for saving the mayor’s wife Daisy (Marjetica). An encounter with this beloved hero is made even more memorable by the second course: bread with Carniolan sausage (kranjska klobasa), mustard seeds and microgreens, perfectly paired with glasses of rich Zweigelt wine from the southern slopes of the castle’s vineyard.

The next stop is the former entrance to the fortress, which was once heavily guarded. Access was via the Pentagonal Tower and a drawbridge over the moat, part of which is still preserved. Here, you will be greeted by Emperor Frederick III of Habsburg, who built the castle as we know it today, along with his wife Eleonora of Portugal. In their company, you’ll enjoy a traditional monastic Lenten meal: buckwheat kasha with root vegetables, cauliflower cream, hazelnuts and smoked trout. Staying true to old custom, a pitcher of scented water is offered for washing hands before the meal. The accompanying wine is served in a replica of a glass found under the castle’s medieval toilet, known as the ajžl.

Guided by a Napoleonic soldier and a nun, you’ll walk from the castle chapel to the Erasmus Tower. The fourth course await you: veal à la Française, inspired by a recipe from Valentin Vodnik’s cookbook – the first cookbook published in Slovenian in 1799.

The prisoner told of the prison’s monotonous menu: Sunday meat stew, followed by seasoned lentils, cornmeal, barley stew, corn mush (žganci), seasoned beans, and back to barley stew until Sunday. In the castle’s wine shop, however, you’ll find a delightful contrast – sweet millet porridge with prunes and walnuts.

Your journey ends in the castle courtyard, where you’ll meet Ivan Hribar, Ljubljana’s most visionary mayor. Over a century ago, he dreamed of transforming the castle into a vibrant meeting place for visitors, complete with a lift to make it accessible. When he bought the castle for the town in 1905, he probably never imagined that it would take almost a century for his vision to become reality. But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait – a sentiment that resonates perfectly as you savour the final course: Slovenia’s beloved traditional dessert, potica – a sweet rolled pastry.