Novohrad, ruins of castles and forts

Filakovo Castle was a medieval castle whose ruins are overlooking the town Fiľakovo. The first written mention of the castle is from 1242, where it says that the castle resisted Tartar invasions. It has several owners, including Matthew III Csák. In the 12th century, the original castle consists of square tower, perimeter wall with the palace on the southwest side and probably mound with palisades. During the reconstruction in 1551 the castle was expanded to the middle castle with a pair of massive pentagonal bastions. Lower Castle was provided by three polygonal bastions, and two tower gates...

Čabraď is a ruin of castle located near the village Čabradský Vrbovok, in the middle of the Krupina Highlands on a hill above the valley Litava. Originally, this castle was called Litava. The castle was built in the 13th century in the village Huntovec to protect roads leading to the mining towns. In the second half of the 16th century it was an important fortress against the Turks. They tried several times in vain to conquer it. In 1511 the castle became the property of the Archbishop of Esztergom T. Bakócz who got it modified and rebuilt around 1520. Works on fortification and enlargement...

Divín is a ruin of a Gothic castle, the ruins of which are located in the village of Divín. The castle was built in the 13th century to protect the road to the Central Slovak mining area. In 1559, a new fort was built with modern defensive elements. However, even these measures did not prevent it from being conquered by the Turks in 1575, who occupied it until 1593. The castle became fatal for the looting actions of its owner Imrich Balassa - in 1683 it was conquered and set on fire by imperial troops. Divín Castle and Podhradie originally belonged to the Novohradská seat. The stool area...

Šomoška Castle built of unconventional hexagonal basalt columns is unique among the Slovak castles. Its scenic beauty ranks it among the most beautiful castles in Slovakia. It is located on the Hungarian border above the Hungarian village Somoskő. The castle was built in the early 14th century by Kacsics Dynasty. In 1323 King Charles-Robert donated castle to Thomas Széczényi. During his era, the castle was a bustling centre of social life. The original base of the castle was a building that with a wall closed the relatively small triangular courtyard. In the 15th century, when firearms...