The severely underrated Central European nation of Slovakia is dwelling to a few of Europe’s best castles. Though many are in a state of degradation, their ruins are simply as jaw-droppingly lovely as a few of the best-preserved castles all through the European continent. Slovakia really is among the many international locations with the very best variety of castles per capita. In its historical past, there have been roughly 180 kingdoms. Today, 120 of them are accessible to vacationers, whether or not in ruins or preserved, every with its personal distinctive historical past and tales to inform. We’ve rounded up probably the most lovely castles in Slovakia so that you can go to throughout your subsequent journey.
Most Beautiful Castles in Slovakia
Bojnice Castle
Bojnice Castle is among the many hottest of gorgeous Slovak castles. Located atop a hill with the city of Bojnice beneath, the fortress itself is a part of the gathering of the Slovak National Museum.
Bojnice Castle is the stuff of fairytales, with its pale blue-hued roofed turrets and burnt-orange doorways. The fortress is among the major sights for guests to Slovakia. Many movie administrators have used the fortress to shoot their films.
The fortress that sits on this location as we speak is definitely the newest model. It sits on the location of an Eleventh-century medieval fortress owned by Hungarian royalty. Fun truth – as a consequence of territory politics and the redrawing of borders, there are an enormous variety of ethnic Hungarians dwelling in Slovakia. The similar goes for Romania and different international locations bordering the present nation of Hungary.
Bojnice Castle can be dwelling to many beloved Slovak annual occasions. These embrace the Summer Music Festival, the Fairytale pageant, and the International Festival of Ghosts and Spirits.
To attain the fortress, take a practice from Bratislava. After arriving in Prievidza, it’s a must to take a 15-minute bus experience to Bojnice. The whole journey takes about 4 hours. If you’re driving, the experience is simply over two hours.
Spiš Castle
Spišský hrad, aka the fortress of Spiš, is among the most lovely castles in Slovakia. The fortress is basically in ruins. Still, it’s a must-see on a listing of one of the best issues to do in Slovakia.
The fortress itself, as with many different Slovak castles, sits upon a hill. The fortress was initially erected over 800 years in the past. Sadly, it discovered its demise in a fireplace within the late 18th century.
Nowadays, the Slovak authorities invests increasingly more money and time with a purpose to restore and preserve their historic buildings and cultural heritage.
You can tour the fortress’s inside with a free audio information. The information is free, however it’s essential to deposit 10 euros, refundable as soon as you come back the gadget. I extremely advocate utilizing the information, because it explains many issues concerning the fortress that could be ignored with out it.
You can hint the fortress partitions which overlook the grounds beneath, together with many of the village. Depending on the climate, you’ve got vistas spanning miles. It’s a very great sight.
It’s best to go to Spiš Castle for those who’re primarily based in Košice. From right here, public transport takes beneath two hours. If you’re primarily based in Bratislava and are actually set on visiting the fortress, hire a automobile. Be certain to set your alarm early, because the drive takes round three and a half hours.
Halič Castle
A go to to Halič Castle would possibly set you again a number of {dollars}, relying on the aim of your journey. If you’re simply visiting the fortress, it received’t value an excessive amount of. However, for those who’d be all for spending the night time at Halič Castle, it at present operates as a luxurious boutique lodge. This is one of the simplest ways to get a style of how Slovak aristocrats really lived in yesteryear.
Records of Halič Castle date again to the late 14th century. It was primarily owned by the Forgach household. Subsequently, it was bought by a developmental firm from Košice. Today, it’s open to the general public as a high-end boutique lodge, full with spa. The lodge started operations in 2016.
From Bratislava, you’ll be able to attain the fortress in slightly below three hours by automobile. If you’re counting on public transportation, maybe it’s greatest to ebook a room. The journey takes round 4 and a half hours by bus.
Trenčín Castle
Undoubtedly probably the most lovely castles in Slovakia is Trenčín Castle, which sits excessive atop a steep rock in Trenčín. Not solely is that this probably the most lovely in Slovakia, it’s additionally one of many largest castles within the entirety of Europe!
The fortress itself is separated into two palaces and its trademark tower. Visitors to Trenčín Castle notably benefit from the bastion and the dungeon, although there are additionally quite a lot of everlasting and momentary exhibitions to get pleasure from. The fortress can be the location of quite a lot of nighttime occasions, medieval video games, and different one-time sights in each season.
Following a tragic fireplace within the late 18th century, restoration efforts started which allowed much more entry to its most lovely areas. Because of the hearth, nonetheless, Trenčín Castle surrendered any and all army significance. The fortress’s most up-to-date proprietor donated the fortress to the city of Trenčín within the earliest years of the Twentieth century.
If, like me, you get pleasure from guided excursions of locations of historic significance, then don’t plan to go to in January. In January, you received’t discover any guides at Trenčín Castle. Otherwise, guides can be found in a wide range of languages, mostly Slovak and English.
From Bratislava, a practice experience right here takes beneath two hours, making for a straightforward day journey.
Smolenice Castle
In spite of the truth that Smolenice Castle isn’t as effectively generally known as a few of the others on this record, it’s really certainly one of Slovakia’s most lovely castles. Its shut proximity to Bratislava makes for a straightforward day journey as effectively. You can attain the fortress in solely an hour by automobile!
The fortress is located in Smolenice, a picture-perfect village within the little Carpathians. Smolenice Castle was first talked about in recorded information within the 1300s and was sadly destroyed by a fireplace at first of the 1800s. After a few years and plenty of strain on the Slovak authorities, restoration efforts lastly got here to fruition and subsequently ended within the mid 1900s.
Today, the fortress formally belongs to the Slovak Academy of Science. Though the constructing is primarily utilized for a myriad of scientific conferences held within the nation, it additionally sometimes hosts weddings. Some components of the fortress are open to the general public for guests, and it’s extremely beneficial you verify these out!
Orava Castle
Orava Castle was initially constructed within the Kingdom of Hungary within the thirteenth century. No, they didn’t transfer the fortress! As I discussed above, following World War I and the autumn of the Austro-Hungarian empire, Hungary misplaced over 70% of its territory. The village of Oravský Podzámok was one of many areas relinquished by Hungary., which is the place Orava Castle at present stands.
Though it’s not among the many largest of the Slovak Castles, there’s no query it is among the most lovely. It is considerably harking back to Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), and plenty of vampire films have been filmed right here all through the years.
The fortress stands on a steep rock cliff overlooking the village beneath. Similar to a lot of Slovakia’s castles, this stance provides it a pure defensive edge.
Following the second World War, the fortress grew to become a prized treasure and nationwide monument.
When you go to Orava Castle, you’ll tour replicas of royal rooms, displays on nationwide historical past in addition to the Tatra Mountains. Expect to spend at the least two hours right here, longer if you wish to get actually in-depth.
Don’t overlook to convey your digicam – the beautiful vistas overlooking Oravský Podzámok are value a go to on their very own.
Orava Castle is located within the northern a part of the nation. It’s not too simply accessible by public transportation, so your only option could be to hire a automobile or be a part of a guided tour. Its shut proximity to the Polish border makes it an excellent choice for a day journey from Zakopane.
Čachtice Castle
The ruins of Čachtice Castle, located within the Carpathian Mountains, are in all probability probably the most mysterious on the record, with the darkest historical past. The final fortress resident was none apart from notorious chatelaine Elizabeth Báthory. Never heard of her? Read on.
The fortress was initially constructed within the thirteenth century as a defensive fortress meant to protect the border of the Kingdom of Hungary. However, throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, its goal reworked to develop into the residence of countess Elizabeth Báthory. Her nickname the ‘Bloody Countess’ was greater than acceptable contemplating her fame. She was accused of torturing and killing tons of upon tons of of ladies and women, soaked in their very own blood, as she believed this might indirectly protect her personal magnificence and youth. Walking a high-quality line between native legend and historic truth, the thriller and historical past of Čachtice Castle makes it a really interesting place for vacationers.
Though you’ll be able to’t tour the fortress within the conventional sense, contemplating it’s primarily ruins, you’ll find many beautiful panoramas and delicate to reasonable mountain climbing. The fortress was demolished within the early 1600s throughout the Bohemian Revolt.
You can entry Čachtice Castle by way of practice from Bratislava. The journey takes simply over an hour, although it needs to be famous that upon departing the practice, a steep hike is required to achieve the fortress.
Bratislava Castle
Bratislava Castle, with its iconic white facade and shiny pink roof, is definitely probably the most visited fortress in Slovakia. This is after all, as a consequence of its prime location overlooking the Slovak capital metropolis. Still, its pristine situation and aesthetic attraction earn it a spot on the record of probably the most lovely castles in Slovakia.
The Bratislava Castle is a huuuuge fortress with 4 spired turrets strategically positioned on a hill overlooking the Danube river. Records of the Bratislava Castle date again as early because the ninth century. It oversaw the coronation of 19 former monarchs. Despite the truth that the fortress fell completely to destruction within the nineteenth century, it was later restored within the mid-Twentieth century. It’s at present a nationwide cultural monument in addition to the unofficial image of Bratislava.
On the luxurious inexperienced fortress grounds, you’ll find completely secluded spots to calm down and take within the splendor of the town in addition to some epic views.
It’s free to stroll by the fortress grounds and admire its magnificence from the surface, nonetheless, to tour the inside has a meager admission value. Definitely take the tour, as you’ll acquire rather more perception into the fortress’s historical past.
Stará Ľubovňa Castle
Stará Ľubovňa Castle is unquestionably one of many lesser-known castles we’ve talked about. Though not as well-liked as a few of the others, it’s nonetheless well-deserving of a spot on this record.
Situated within the northeast space of Spiš, the Stará Ľubovňa Castle affords guests a glimpse into its considerable and alluring historical past.
The fortress dates again initially as early because the thirteenth century. Given its strategic location close to to the Polish border, it was as soon as used to deal with the
Nestled within the north-east of Spis lies the magnificent Stara Lubovna Castle, which boasts a wealthy and colourful historical past, courting again to the flip of the thirteenth century.
Given its strategic location close to to the Polish border, it was as soon as used to cover the baubles and gems of the Polish coronation. It was additionally a gathering level of royals and aristocrats used for deliberation and dialogue of essential diplomatic issues.
Destroyed by fireplace within the mid sixteenth century, it was subsequently restored. Are you noticing a pattern right here? Perhaps Slovak castles would have been clever to equip with anti-combustion supplies.
Nowadays, you’ll be able to go to the fortress to tour its lush gardens and the museum that it homes on the inside. While you’re within the space, make sure to go to the open-air ethnographic museum that sits beneath the fortress partitions.
Devin Castle
The picturesque ruins of Devin Castle (Hrad Devin) are located atop a hill overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. From its prime hilltop location, you’ll be able to even see the suburbs of Vienna on the other aspect of the river.
It’s simple to think about how this alternative location could be perfect for a fortress. Close your eyes and picture the fortress in a better-preserved state, thwarting sieges with its imposing stance. The ruins you’ll be able to see as we speak date again to the medieval ages, nonetheless, even earlier than that, there have been fortifications constructed right here way back to the Bronze Age.
The Danube and Morava rivers that movement beneath the ruins of Devin Castle acted as a pure border of the Iron Curtain, separating the totally different spheres of affect throughout the Cold War. The fortress remained transformed for army use till the autumn of the Iron Curtain in 1989. Today, it’s open to guests to discover.
Situated a mere 12km outdoors Bratislava, you’ll be able to surmise (appropriately) that it’s pretty well-liked with vacationers. Still, you’d by no means think about it’s so near a capital metropolis given its lush inexperienced environment. Pack a picnic and you could even be capable to share a snack with one of many native goats that sometimes graze the fortress grounds.
To attain Devin Castle from Bratislava, take both bus 29 or 129 from Most SNP. If you’re visiting throughout the summer season months, you’ll be able to even take a Danube River cruise.
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