Friderick's tower in the old castle in Celje | Gartner arhitekti

Visitors’ expectations are raised at the foot of the tower and are then increased during the climb toward the top by the natural light above.

The defense tower represents the most prominent point of Celje's Old Castle. Before the renovation, it consisted of bare walls which enclosed only a useless, damaged wooden staircase along with all the sad stories of the Counts of Celje.

We approached the renovation with great respect: we conducted only the most urgent renovation of the outer walls and equipped them with a simple iron staircase, which ascends to the top of the tower.

Visitors are led through various spaces with different atmospheres; from the dark base of the interior of the tower which is illuminated only by the most necessary artificial lighting, to the subtly positioned glass cube, on the platform at the top of the tower, offering a view of the entire city of Celje.

Visitors’ expectations are raised at the foot of the tower and are then increased during the climb toward the top by the natural light above. At the top, on the viewing platform which offers panoramic views of the city of Celje, the expectations result in catharsis. Visitors leave the tower along the same path, with the impressions and experiences they partook in along the way, in the embrace of walls filled with centuries-old stories.

Before the renovation, it consisted of bare walls which enclosed only a useless, damaged wooden staircase along with all the sad stories of the Counts of Celje.

This outcome results from successful, close cooperation with the Celje Regional Office of the Institute for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of Slovenia.