Kamnik

First mentioned in the eleventh century and recorded as a town in 1229, when it was an important trading post on the road between Ljubljana and Celje, which makes it one of the oldest towns in Slovenia. In the Middle Ages it had its own mint and a resident aristocracy, and it was among the most influential centres of power for the Bavarian counts of Andechs in Carniola. What remains of that nobility is two ruined castles, both set on high ground near the centre. The Franciscan monastery in the town survives well.