Contributing Writer
In early September, Slovenia’s Mokrice Castle became an unreal setting for the inaugural edition of Fort X, a new boutique festival bringing quality house and techno into one of Europe’s most atmospheric and historic sites, all just 30 minutes from Zagreb airport and across one of the world’s last remaining drawbridges.
Set among ancient, mystic woodland and the grounds of the medieval fortress, the festival kept its capacity deliberately capped at 2,000 people, so there was a notably coyt and personal feel. Rather than constructing a conventional festival site, Fort X worked around the castle itself, with its courtyards, forest and stone architecture very much becoming part of the experience.
The Courtyard stage, set within the castle, hosted sets from Dixon, Fiona Kraft, Jimi Jules and Einfakinn, before Aney F, Joe Quinn and Pablo Panda took over for the after-party. Elsewhere, the Castle stage was positioned among the surrounding forest, bringing together Âme DJ, Butch b2b Nic Fanciulli, Maceo Plex, Mimi x FY and Elena Mikac. The crowds were eclectic and from all over Europe and were, importantly, knowledgeable and ready to move to whatever grooves they were served up.
Musically, the programme roamed between deep and melodic house, stripped-back grooves, techno and more leftfield electronic territory, with established names sharing the bill with artists from the regional scene. Longer sets and the smaller capacity allowed the music to remain central throughout the day and into the night which was another distinctive aspect of this festival, which really felt like it was designed around the sounds first.
As darkness fell, the castle was illuminated in warm red light that flipped its medieval façade into a dramatic backdrop – moody, evolving, immersive and unlike anything else you will have danced at. Above the crowd, sheets of laser light stretched into the night sky, while the surrounding woodland and inky black skies added to the sense of escapism.
With sign-ups already open for the 2027 edition, the debut has established the foundations for Fort X to return to Mokrice Castle next year.
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