Lihtenberk Castle

Lihtenberk Castle as depicted by Johann Weikhard von Valvasor in 1679

Lihtenberk Castle (Slovene: Grad Lihtenberk, German: Schloss Lichtenberg) is a 13th-century castle ruin located in the municipality of Šmartno pri Litiji in central Slovenia, directly adjacent to the later Bogenšperk Castle. It is best known for a minor association with the 17th-century historian Johann Weikhard von Valvasor, who owned the ruin and styled himself (among other things) "von Lichtenberg."

Architecture

Lihtenberk was a walled castle with a three-story residential palacium, remnants of which are the only element still visible today.

History

The castle first appears in written sources in 1223, in the form of a mention of its then-owner, Aquileian ministerialis Albert de Lihtenberca; the knights von Lichtenberg had taken the castle from the knights Andes, and they from the knights Višjegorski. In 1250, the castle is recorded as castrum Liechtemberch, in 1288 as castrum Leytemberch, in 1338 as Pilgrimum de Liechtenberch, and in 1393 and 1396 simply as Lyechtenberg. Around 1288 the castle was temporarily occupied by Count Meinhard of Tyrol, who gave it out in fief, but the Patriarchate of Aquileia soon intervened to revert the castle to its previous state of ownership.

At the end of the 15th century, the castle was received as dowry by Boltežar the noble Wagen, imperial administrator of the castles of Hošperk by Planina and Šteberk in Cerknica, as well as lord of Kostel Castle near the river Kolpa. By this time the castle was in a very poor state or repair, and the seat of the lordship was moved to the newly built Bogenšperk Castle nearby. The fate of Lihtenberk was sealed in 1511 by a major earthquake which badly damaged the building; in 1630 its owner Jurij Kheysell demolished what was left and used the materials for the consolidation and repair of Bogenšperk, a practice continued later in the century by Valvasor.

Sources

• Ivan Jakič, Vsi slovenski gradovi ("All Slovene Castles"), DZS, Ljubljana, 1997, p. 188
• Bogenšperk Castle - official website

Municipality of Šmartno pri Litiji
Settlements	Administrative centre: Šmartno pri Litiji Current Bogenšperk Bukovica pri Litiji Cerovica Črni Potok Dolnji Vrh Dragovšek Dvor Gornji Vrh Gozd–Reka Gradišče Gradišče pri Litiji Gradiške Laze Jablaniške Laze Jablaniški Potok Jastrebnik Javorje Jelša Ježce Ježni Vrh Kamni Vrh pri Primskovem Koške Poljane Leskovica pri Šmartnem Liberga Lupinica Mala Kostrevnica Mala Štanga Mihelca Mišji Dol Mulhe Obla Gorica Podroje Poljane pri Primskovem Preska nad Kostrevnico Primskovo Račica Razbore Riharjevec Ščit Selšek Sevno Spodnja Jablanica Štangarske Poljane Stara Gora pri Velikem Gabru Velika Kostrevnica Velika Štanga Vinji Vrh Vintarjevec Višnji Grm Volčja Jama Vrata Zagrič Zavrstnik Zgornja Jablanica Former Golce Kremenjek Mengeš Preska Primskova Gora Ustje
Landmarks	Bogenšperk Castle Lihtenberk Castle ruins St. Martin's Parish Church
Notable people	Slavko Grum Davorin Hostnik

Slovenia - Castles, Fortresses, and Palaces in Slovenia
Slovenia	Ajman Castle Baumkircher Tower Bela Peč Castle Betnava Mansion Bizeljsko Castle Bled Castle Bogenšperk Castle Bokalce Castle Branik Castle Brdo Castle near Kranj Brežice Castle Celje Castle Gornja Radgona Castle Gracar Tower Gradac Castle Ig Castle Jablje Castle Jakobski Dol Castle Kacenštajn Castle Kalec Castle Kieselstein Castle Koprivnik Castle Kostel Castle Kozjak Castle Kravjek Castle Krško Castle Krumperk Castle Leutemberg Castle Lihtenberk Castle Lipnica Castle Lož Castle Ljubljana Castle Maribor Castle Maribor Water Tower Medija Castle Metlika Castle Miren Castle Mokrice Castle Olimje Castle Ortnek Castle Pišece Castle Podsmreka Castle Polhov Gradec Castle Predjama Castle Ptuj Castle Račji Dvor Mansion Raka Castle Ravne Castle Ravne Castle Ruard Manor Slovenska Bistrica Castle Strmol Mansion Strmol Castle Velenje Castle Vipava Castle Žovnek Castle
Castles in Slovenia

Coordinates: 46°1′24.02″N 14°51′28.28″E / 46.0233389°N 14.8578556°E / 46.0233389; 14.8578556