Viltuš Castle

Viltuš Manor is located near the city of Maribor, more precisely in Spodnje Slemen. It was built later than the older Viltuš Castle, which once stood nearby. The name Viltuš is believed to derive from the German word wildhaus.

The new Viltuš Manor was constructed in several phases and acquired its final appearance in the second half of the 19th century. During this period, it was enriched with elements of the romantic Neo-Norman style. The manor is highly articulated, featuring many dormers and small towers, the most prominent being the large tower that gives the building a distinctive character.

The manor is classified as an immovable cultural monument of national importance. Such monuments are first evaluated as cultural heritage and then entered into the Register of Immovable Cultural Heritage. Their designation is formalized by acts adopted by the competent authority and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia or in a local community bulletin.

The manor complex also includes a park, officially named Spodnje Slemen – Park of Viltuš Manor. The park is designed in a landscaped style and richly planted with exotic tree species. A pond forms part of the garden design, and the park gradually transitions into natural forest. The castle park was declared an immovable cultural monument of national importance on 6 October 1999 and is likewise entered in the Register of Immovable Cultural Heritage.

After World War II, when the owners were expelled, Viltuš Manor reportedly became haunted. It is said to remain so even today, as the building still stands abandoned and is rapidly deteriorating.