Ruins of castles and forts in Slovakia

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...

Korlátka is a ruin of a castle guarding the so-called The Czech way. The castle is located in the Little Carpathians, 455 m above sea level. m., above the village Cerová at the part of Rozbehy. It dates from the 13th century and was abandoned in the 18th century. Today, the fragments of the cylindrical tower (unique in Slovakia), the remains of the palace and walls have been preserved. The most preserved is the farm building in the forecourt. Other castle names: Korlátsky hrad, Korlátko, Korlátky, Cerovský zámok, Konrádov kameň, 1324 Korlathkeu, 1399 Korlathkw, Kunradstayn, 1443 Koratowe...

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 ran riot. At present times, ruins stand on its place, however, conclusive evidence has been preserved...

The Pajstun castle belongs in the system of border castles that took over, since the 13th century, the function of protection of the north-western borders of the Ugrian state in the Small Carpathians. The beginnings of the royal castle date back to the second half of the 13th century. It has been documented since 1273. The oldest owners used to have a shared lordship with Stupava where they returned in a later stage. Since the 14th century it belonged to counts from Svätý Jur and Pezinok continuously, up to the year 1526 when the family died out and the property got into the ownership of the...

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...

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 settlement of the castle hill already in the earlier Bronze Age. The explicit written proof about...

Tematín Castle is a castle ruin in western Slovakia. The castle was originally built in the second half of the 13th century. It was fundamentally reconstructed by the Thurzo family, owners of the castle from 1524. The last owner was Miklós Bercsényi, general of the anti-Habsburg insurrection army. The castle was turned into ruins after it was sieged in 1710 as a part of the suppression of the anti-Habsburg uprising.

Uhrovec Castle ruins, towering at a height of 590 metres above sea level, on the side ridge of Nitricka Hills, located near the village Uhrovské Podhradie. The castle probably dates from the 13th century. It can be assumed that Matus Cak was involved in the construction development of the castle. In 1389 Emperor Sigismund donated the castle and vast possessions to Ctibor from Ctiborice, the richest tycoon of Western Slovakia, which extended the castle. In the 15th and 16th centuries the proprietary disputes were led and the castle frequently changed owners until it was gained by noble family...

Kapušiansky castle is the ruins of the castle above the village Kapušany, over the road to the town of Bardejov and is situated on a rocky outcrop of Zámčisko hill. The castle was built in the 13th century on a steep hill, on the site of an old Slavic settlement. The castle was supposed to protect the royal road leading from Prešov to the north. Its first owner was the genus Moglód. In 1312, during the fighting between Karol Robert and Csák Máté destroyed the castle. Around 1410 it got Andrej Kappy, who built a new fortified building. Due to the danger of Turkish invasions, the castle...