Donovaly, castles, chateaus

The town castle was once formed by several ancient buildings in the central Slovakian metropolis Banská Bystrica. Its task was to protect the income proceedings of copper and silver mining for the royal treasury. The town castle was built gradually. The parish church was built as the first structure in the 13th century and fortifications were added to it in the 15th century. Earth ramparts and palisades were later replaced by tall stone walls fortified by bastions and a water dike. In the 16th...

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...

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...

Town castle Kremnica is the complex of buildings built and fortified in 13th - 15th century. The building of St. Katharine Church is dominant; it was built in Gothic style. In present time the castle is the residence of Coin and Medal Museum. Exposures: Baroque sculptures Kremnica bells Town defence Archaeological researches of the castle Opening hours June to September (Tuesday - Sunday) 08.30 - 12.00  13.00 - 17.30 October to May (Tuesday...

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...