Grad Borl

About the museum

Grad Borl is also known as Ankenstein and Borlyn. Since the 12th century it has stood on a steep rock above the River Drava, guarding a strategically important crossing; because of its location it is rightly called the gateway to the Haloze hills. Among its most important owners was the Sauer family, who in the 17th century converted the castle into a comfortable residence and gave it its present Baroque appearance. They owned it until 1801, after which it passed to the Wurmbrand-Stuppach family, who thoroughly renovated it in the mid-19th century. Between 1901 and 1922 it belonged to Max and Adalberta Kübeck, who sold it after the First World War to the joint-stock company Borlin.

From 1952 to 1979 a popular holiday resort with a restaurant, rooms and, from 1962, an outdoor swimming pool operated at the castle. At the end of the 1970s the resort was closed and the castle began to decay. Today it is owned by the Republic of Slovenia and has the status of a cultural monument of national importance. About a third of the castle was restored in 2020, and in 2024 it reopened to the public; the Društvo za oživitev gradu Borl (Borl Castle Revival Association) campaigned strongly for it.

The castle is adorned by a large outer and inner arcaded courtyard and an outer terrace with a view of the old town of Ptuj. A special gem is the Chapel of the Holy Trinity from the 17th century; below the castle lies a two-storey wine cellar in the shape of the letter Z. Where the castle swimming pool once was, there is now a natural wetland; bats nest in the attic and cellars.

Highlights

• Natural history exhibition zDravo on the biodiversity of the Drava and the Natura 2000 area
• 17th-century Chapel of the Holy Trinity with rich furnishings
• Arcaded courtyard and terrace with a view of Ptuj
• Two-storey wine cellar in the shape of the letter Z
• Castle café with local specialities from the Haloze and the Drava Plain

Permanent exhibition

• zDravo – The natural history exhibition in five sections presents the entire cycle of the River Drava, river processes, and the plant and animal species of the Natura 2000 riverside area of the Drava, among them bats, the marsh frog and the beaver.

Operated by

Javni zavod Belana Cirkulane

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Individual visitors enter free on open days: 8 February, 18 May, the third Saturday in June (summer museum night, 18:00–24:00) and 3 December.

Free admission is granted to group accompanying persons (educators, teachers, tour guides), holders of SMD, SAD, SED, SKD, SUZD and ZDSLU cards, members of ICOM and ICOMOS, researchers and journalists with a PRESS card, and pre-school children. The price list is valid from 1 March 2025; prices include VAT.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

Educational programmes for all primary school triads and for secondary schools; the castle also hosts a children’s theatre subscription and creative workshops.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Castle café with fresh coffee and home-made desserts and, to order, authentic local delicacies from the Haloze and the Drava Plain.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Rental of individual rooms or the whole castle complex for weddings, cultural events, concerts, business meetings and celebrations; the castle is heated in winter.

Plan your visit