To be exact, the Ljubljana Castle welcomed 487,721 visitors between January and June, which is similar to last year. Since the main two months of the summer – when more than 300,000 people on average visited the castle in recent years – are still to be counted, the municipality is hoping to see counters exceeding the number of one million tourists for the fourth year in a row. The use of the funicular railway has also increased – the castle reports a 7.5% rise in the number of passengers year-on-year, having transported 144,767 travellers in the first six months of 2016.

The castle implemented audio guides almost a year ago, and since then almost 20,000 visitors decided to use them. Audio tours had been initially available in Slovenian and seven other languages, and four additional foreign languages were added at the beginning of this year; in total, audio guides now support 12 language variants.

More and more people decide for The Time Machine – from Emona to city symbol, a special tour carried out by a castle guide and other characters wearing costumes. The number of visitors on this tour has risen by 15 per cent compared to the same period last year. During the main tourist season, the Time Machine is offered four times daily in Slovenian and English, while six other foreign languages are also available through audio guides.

The castle has also built a new pavillion, which already boasts a freshly blossomed new type of rose, named after Ljubljana. Walks through the chestnut avenue to Plečnik’s architectural attraction Šance can be extended to the castle’s vineyard, or as far as the Ljubljana University Botanic Garden. A number of open-air events will also take place at the castle’s courtyard this summer: Film Under the Stars, Comedy Under the Stars, the Panč festival of stand-up comedy as well as other music and culinary events.

D. S., MMC; translated by K. Z.