Vígľaš Castle

Vígľaš Castle is located above the Slatina River near the village of Vígľaš in the Detva district, approximately 13 km from the town of Zvolen. The castle was built in the 14th century at a strategic location where the road from Zvolen emerges from a narrow gorge through which the Slatina River flows. In the 16th century, Vígľaš Castle played an important role in the defense of the central Slovak mining towns against Turkish raids. Although the Turks damaged the castle, they never managed to conquer it.

After the Turkish threat had been repelled, the castle underwent reconstruction in the 18th century. It was modernized and adapted for more comfortable living. At the end of the 19th century, further renovations were carried out in the spirit of Romanticism. In 1945, during World War II, the castle was damaged by fire, abandoned, and subsequently fell into decay without any maintenance until 2007, when restoration works began under the supervision of the Monuments Office.

The extensive reconstruction, which lasted until 2013, included the restoration of the fortifications, bastions, and the entire complex. Today, the castle houses the four-star Grand Vígľaš Hotel, while part of the castle—the first courtyard—is also open to the public. In the entrance courtyard, visitors can relax in a café or pastry shop. The castle walls are also accessible and offer a beautiful view of the surrounding area. There is also a souvenir shop on site. Guided tours of the castle interiors are organized several times a day. The castle is the official seat of the Order of the Circle of Swords.