Unreal Places · Five countries · Series
5 places that look like film sets but are real
These five places in Europe look like film sets, and every one is real: a castle built into the mouth of a cave, three towers of rock in the Dolomites, a city inside its own walls on the sea, a single stone arch over a green river, and a castle on a rock in a lake. All five can be reached by road.
The places in this film
- 1
Predjama Castle, Slovenia
A castle built into a cave mouth halfway up a cliff. It is a short drive from Postojna Cave, and most people visit both together.
- 2
Tre Cime, Italy
Three rock towers in the Dolomites with a walking trail around them. In summer the toll road up must be booked ahead.
- 3
Dubrovnik, Croatia
A walled city on the Adriatic. The walk along the top of the walls is almost two kilometres. Go early or late to avoid the heat.
- 4
Stari Most, Bosnia and Herzegovina
A stone arch over the Neretva river in Mostar, first built in 1566 and rebuilt in 2004. Local divers jump from the top.
- 5
Chillon Castle, Switzerland
A medieval castle on a rock at the edge of Lake Geneva, near Montreux. Allow about two hours inside.
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Plan it
- Best time
- May to September for all five. Tre Cime is a summer walk, from about June to early October. The others are open all year and quieter outside July and August.
- How long
- Each is a half-day stop on a longer trip.
- Getting around
- All five are on roads. Mostar is a day trip from Dubrovnik or Split, with a border crossing into Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Good to know
- Carry your passport for the Mostar day trip. It is outside the European Union.
- Check summer booking rules for the Tre Cime toll road before you drive up.
- Dubrovnik is quietest on days with few cruise ships in port.
Frequently asked
Can you go inside Predjama Castle? +
Yes. The castle is open to visitors with an audio guide, and the rooms run back into the cave behind. It is about nine kilometres from Postojna Cave, and combined tickets for both are sold.
Is the bridge in Mostar the original? +
No. The original Ottoman bridge, finished in 1566, was destroyed in 1993 during the war. It was rebuilt using the same methods and local stone and reopened in 2004. The bridge and the old town around it are a World Heritage site.
Do people really dive off Stari Most? +
Yes. Members of the local diving club jump from the top of the arch, about 21 metres above the river, a tradition that goes back centuries. They usually wait until onlookers have put together a collection before they jump.
