Dolný Hričov, castles, chateaus

The ruins of the castle perk on the steep hill above Hričovské Podhradie. Originally, it was a Roman royal castle that stood at the road along the river Váh already before the Tatar invasion. It has been famous since 1265. It has been built on steep rangy rocky hill, on the left bank of the river Váh and it belongs among the oldest castles on the middle part of Váh. The castle is rather small and it is being built into the rocky uneven terrain. The first written reference about settlement on the territory of the Hričovské Podhradie dates back to the era of Matthias Corvinus. The castle...

Renaissance mansion in the city centre of Bytča is one of the most important and architecturally most impressive feudal settlements in Slovakia. The National Cultural Monument consists of a Renaissance palace so-called Wedding Palace as well as economic and residential buildings. Originally there was a small castle built in the 13th century, belonging to the Bishopric of Nitra. In 1563 Francis Turzo took possession of the Bytča estate together with the castle. He built on the site of an old...

Budatin Castle is a historical and architectonical site in Zilina. It was built in the second half of the 13th century. In past it used to be a water castle protected by river streams and water dams. The oldest part of the castle is residential Romanesque tower used by Matus Cak Trenciansky. In the beginning of the 14th century during his reign the tower was fortified and one-wing castle was built. After 1545 the castle was rebuilt in Renaissance style and later amended with Baroque changes. The...

The castle was built in the second half of the 13th century, the first reference about it dates back to 1318. In the second half of the 16th century it was gained by the Thurzos and they owned it till its downfall in the years 1698-1770. Since that time, it has continuously run riot. The fortifications, the walls of the donjon, remainders of palaces for living and of the chapel have been preserved. At the beginning of the 18th century the castle burnt down, it lost its defensive function and it...

The romantic ruins of the Strečno castle dominate above the ribbon of the river Váh as the symbol of feudal powers on the middle part of the river Váh. Although being in ruins already for three centuries, its preserved architecture is proof of development of mediaeval fortress from the period of Gothic until the period of Baroque. Although the history of the castle began only in the middle of the 14th century, the first inhabitants came here far earlier – the archaeological findings proved...

The mansion in Oščadnica was built in the years 1910 - 1913 by the Prussian Junker Count Ballestrem. At that time, the mansion served as a hunting lodge, and the count established a forest park with an area of over 3 hectares. The manor building is two-track and two-story, symmetrical to the central axis, oriented longitudinally in the east-west direction. Over time, the manor house changed owners and other buildings were gradually added to it. In 1976, the mansion became the property of the...

The Renaissance mansion in Turčianska Štiavnička was built in the second half of the 16th century, modified in the Baroque-Classicist style. At the beginning of the 1990s, extensive reconstruction began, but it has not yet been completed. At present, the manor house is not accessible to the public and is gradually deteriorating. The mansion also includes an extensive English park with a winter garden, lakes and rare trees. The park, which continuously grows into the surrounding forests, keeps...