Ptuj Castle

Ptuj Castle (Grad Ptuj) occupies a prominent hill above the left bank of the Drava River overlooking the town of Ptuj. Archaeological and historical records indicate the site was settled in prehistoric and Roman times and a fortification is attested by at least the 9th century. Major medieval construction on the fortress began in the first half of the 12th century under Archbishop Konrad of Salzburg, and the complex remained in continuous strategic and functional use through later periods. After World War II the Ptuj Regional Museum was entrusted with management of the castle complex (1945), and the museum now houses collections of archaeology, history, cultural history, ethnology, restoration workshops, and the almost-completely preserved furnishings of the castle's last owners, the Herberstein family. The castle is treated in the provided sources as a cultural, historical, and touristic landmark of regional significance.