Perched above the little Lipnica stream near Radovljica, the romantic ruins of Pusti grad (also known as Lipniški grad or Waldenberg) invite hikers to combine a gentle woodland walk with a dose of medieval history. Little remains of the once-mighty castle, but the atmosphere among the mossy stones is unforgettable.

The castle once stood on a green hill, surrounded by dense hornbeam forest, open fields and a wild thicket once favored for hunting by the counts of Ortenburg. Today the ruins reveal the outline of a massive Romanesque palace dating back to the 12th century. The setting is peaceful in every season, especially atmospheric in autumn mist or on quiet spring mornings, making it a rewarding short outing for families and history lovers alike.

How to get there

• Radovljica or nearby villages - forest trail, short walk, easy difficulty
• Alternative approach from the Lipnica valley

The ruins have long inspired writers - the castle is the setting of one of the earliest original Slovenian short stories, 'Tihotapec' by Valentin Mandelc (1855), and later works by Josip Lavtižar and Polona Škrinjar.