CASTLE TURJAK (AUERSPERG)

Castle Turjak from the book,
Die Ehre dess Hertzogthums Crain in 1689
Author:  Johann Weichard Valvasor

HISTORY: 
Name of the castle Turjak is derrived from now extinct animal tur which is also depicted in the coat of arms and jak which means strong. The word tur was brought to Slovenia around the year 400 BC. when the Gauls colonized the area. In their language tur means mountains. According to historian Valvasor on the site of today's castle once stood a prehistoric iapod city called Aurupium. Valvasor also writes of the first castle "Old Turjak" built by Konrad von Auersperg in 1067. The castle was abandoned in the 15th century and its ruins are preserved at the foot of the today´s new castle Turjak. In 1162 was the first mention of Turjak Knight Engelberus de Vrsberch. The first old noble family of Turjak became extinct in the 13th century. In 1318 was the first mention of both Turjak castles when they were destroyed in a war between

Henry Gorizia - Tyrol and the Habsburgs. In the 15 and 16th century the castle was besieged by the Turks 3 times but they could not conquer it. After the great earthquake in 1511 Trojan Turjak destroyed the damaged castle and in 1520 began constructing a new one. In 1515 castle was attacked by farmers in the all-Slovenian peasant revolt but they also were not able to conquer it. During the Italian military occupation in the Second World War the castle´s rich archive was stolen. During the 2nd World War in September of 1943 in Turjak castle battle ensued between the partisans and village guards. Partisans captured about 500 anti-communist units and burned down the castle. Restoration of the castle started in1962.

PICTURES: 

Castle Turjak and ruins of old castleTurjak
author: Erminy, Franz Wolf (around 1830)

Castle Turjak before destruction in 1943