Žilina, castles

Budatin Castle is a historical and architectonical site in Zilina. It was built in the second half of the 13th century. In past it used to be a water castle protected by river streams and water dams. The oldest part of the castle is residential Romanesque tower used by Matus Cak Trenciansky. In the beginning of the 14th century during his reign the tower was fortified and one-wing castle was built. After 1545 the castle was rebuilt in Renaissance style and later amended with Baroque changes. The most famous owners of the castle were the Szunyoghs. During their ownership 1487-1798 the castle went...

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...

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 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 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...