Predjama Local Customs

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During the summer time you can see the Erasmus Knight's Tournament located in the arena in front of the castle. The Erasmus Tournament in Predjama is based on illustrations from the 16th century. Archers, swordsmen and horsemen show off their skills on the Field of Combat. In the same time you can try the Medieval Banquet, which includes dishes prepared using original medieval recipes and served just as they were five hundred years ago.

Erasmus was the Castle's most famous resident, the way he died is the most interesting and amusing part of the story. Erasmus lived here in the later part of the 15th century, the tale begins after he kills one of Austrian Emperor Frederick III's kinsmen, a revenge killing after one of his friends was decapitated. Eramus headed back to Predjama with mercanaries paid to capture him, he further angered the Emperor by raiding merchant caravans. Caspar Ravbar, governor of Trieste, was then commissioned to capture him.

Erasmus eluded capture for over a year, taunting them by hurling food at them that he was receiving via secret passageways according to Rough Guide, the official website says that he was sending meat, fish and cherries as gifts to taunt them as they thought their supply lines were cutoff. I was imagining the scene with the taunting Frenchmen hurling cows from Monty Python and the Holy Grail when I read the Rough Guide so I think I prefer that version!

He was eventually betrayed by a servant who shone a light on him allowing his pursuers to fire a projectile at him, the rocks from above crushing him while answering nature's call. You might say that Erasmus died a royal death, on the throne!!!

I suspect that the catapult in the attached picture is not original nor was there a nice paved terrace to position it on!