Castles in Slovakia

This majestic castle is towering on a rocky spur of the Male Carpathy massif, 85 metres above the level of the river Danube forming panorama of Slovak capital city. Its history comes back to the time of Celts and Romans. The castle hill was an important place especially for the fact it was on the crossroads of important business routes, it was protected by the massive river from one side and by deep forests of the Male Carpathy from the other. A person, who built the fortification, knew how important the crossing over the river was and he was the whole area owner. This massive rectangular block...

The Čachtice castle hill has been settled already in the prehistoric age. It is proved by findings of various objects that were excavated directly on the courtyards of the castle or nearby the walls. The castle perks on the dolomite hill above the village of Višňové. The first written reference about the castle has been preserved from 1276, when it belonged among the royal frontier fortresses. It was shortly owned also by Matthew Czak from Trenčín. In 1392, Ctibor from Ctiborice became its owner. After that the castle has changed its owners very frequently, until it has been gained by the...

This massive castle in good conditions is situated on quartzite hill in the village of Casta, about 30 kilometres from Bratislava on the way to Pezinok. Original king's castle from the 13th century was a part of border forts of western frontier with Hungary. In the 16th century it became the property of Thurzo family and from 1535 it belonged to the Fuggers - one of the richest European magnates and financiers. The castle went through several amendments and rebuilts. There are high vaulted cellars built. They are 72 metres long and 9 metres high - the largest in Central Europe. Till 1845 the...

The castle hill has been settled already in the 5th century B.C., the oldest part of the today´s castle dates back to the 13th century. In 1809 the castle was destroyed, since the 60s of the 20th century the reconstruction of the castle and archaeological research began. At present, there are expositions here and exhibitions of the City Museum of Bratislava. Tel.: +421/2/54 43 47 42 Open: April-October, Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00a.m. – 5:00 p.m.. Devín (German: Theben, Hungarian: Dévény), originally a separate town at the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, is now a borough of Bratislava,...

The castle was founded before 1250 and was originally used by king's family as a hunting residence. Later the castle changed the owners who adjusted it into their needs. Many additional and rebuilt parts show the evidence of it. While amendment work in the 17th century the courtyard was supplemented by arcades and arches in the rooms were changed. At that period the castle was residence of Lupca nobility. The property was changed into an orphanage after the fire in 1860, and during the last regime there were nuns placed in the castle. Thanks to continuous use of the castle it has survived in...

Frontier castle from the 14th century several times rebuilt. Today there is a residence of Lubovnianske Museum. In outer bailey of the castle there is an open-air museum of folk architecture of North-eastern Slovakia. Expositions: Castle history Ľubomírsky Palace - stylish furniture Chapel - sacral arts Lapidary Prison Apartment of the castle-keeper Carriages Open: May-September, daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. October-April, Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Massive ruins of Spis Castle are lying on the travertine hill of 634 metres above Spis settlement around the castle. The ruins are the largest in Slovakia as well as in Central Europe. Although the first historical notes about the castle come back to the year 1120, archaeological evidence proves a settlement on the castle hill already in the 4th century BC. It was a district centre castle in the 12th century. In the first half of the 13th century there were protective stone forts around the castle acropolis. The fortification saved the castle against Tartars attacks in 1241. In that time Romanesque...

Trencin Castle is built on a high limestone hill; it dominates Trencin town and surrounding area. It was founded in a place of fortified settlement, which must have been fortified and equipped with castle objects because it had already been the king's guard castle in the 11th century. Romans had already appreciated the advantageous position of the locality close to Carpathian passes and Vah fords. The evidence of it can be seen in a famous sign on the castle rock from 179 A.D. This commemorative note remembers victory of Caesar Marcus Aurelius and his stepson Commod over Kvads in 179 A.D....

Zvolen Castle (Slovak: Zvolenský zámok) is a medieval castle located on a hill near the center of Zvolen, in central Slovakia. The original seat of the region was above the confluence of Slatina and Hron rivers on a steep cliff in a castle from the 12th century, known today as Pustý hrad (meaning "Deserted castle"). Its difficult access had consequence in relocation of the seat to the new-built Zvolen castle, which was ordered by Louis I the Great as a hunting residence of Hungarian kings. The future queen regnant Mary of Hungary and emperor Sigismund celebrated their wedding there...