Donovaly, ruins of castles and forts

Blatnica Castle is a Gothic castle whose ruins are situated near the village of Blatnica, on the foot of the Greater Fatra Range in Slovakia. The castle was built in the 13th century to protect a major trade route running from Nitra to the north. Soon afterwards it became a royal castle but the kings lost their interest in the castle's development after a new route, through Mošovce and Martin was built. The new owners of Blatnica Castle, the Révay family were more generous and the castle was...

Sklabina Castle is a ruin above the village Sklabinský Podzámok on a hill at an altitude of 626 m above sea level. m. in the lower part of Kantorská dolina 9 km east of Martin. The castle was built in the first half of the 13th century on the site of an older fortified settlement. During the 13th century, it became the center of the castle estate. In 1328, the seat was located here. In 1436 the castle burned down. A little later, they gradually costly modified it. In 1554, the castle was extended...

The ruins of the Likava Castle tower above the village Likavka near the town of Ruzomberok in the Liptov Region. The first written reference comes from the first half of the 14th century, but it is likely that it was built back in 12th to 13th century. The castle originally served to guard the trade route from the region of the river Váh (Považie) to Orava continuing to Poland. The castle consists only of walls built on the highest point of the rock. Last period of the expansion of the castle...

Liptovský hrad (Sielnický hrad or Liptovský Starý hrad) is a ruin of a castle in the Chočské vrchy, on the Sestrč hill at an altitude of more than 900 m above sea level. m. The remains of the castle are located above the villages of Kalameny and Bukovina. It was the highest castle in Slovakia and was also one of the highest in Central Europe. The castle was built by King Belo IV. and performed a defensive function. It was destroyed several times and subsequently expanded, and later became...

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...

Castle of Dobra Niva or even Dobronivský Castle is a gothic castle ruins situated in the village Podzámčok. The castle was built probably after the Mongol invasion in the second half of the 13th century as a guard building at the old trade route south from Zvolen. It was the centre of Dobra Niva royal property until the 16th century. In the 15th century it belonged to the property of the queens. At the beginning of the 17th century the castle was in such bad shape that the administration of...