The critically underrated Central European nation of Slovakia is dwelling to a few of Europe’s best castles. Although many are in a state of degradation, their ruins are simply as jaw-droppingly stunning as a number of the best-preserved castles all through the European continent. Slovakia truly is among the many nations with the very best variety of castles per capita. In its historical past, there have been roughly 180 kingdoms. Right now, 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 essentially the most stunning castles in Slovakia so that you can go to throughout your subsequent journey.
Most Stunning Castles in Slovakia
Bojnice Fort
Bojnice Fort is among the many hottest of lovely Slovak castles. Situated atop a hill with the city of Bojnice under, the citadel itself is a part of the gathering of the Slovak Nationwide Museum.
Bojnice Fort is the stuff of fairytales, with its pale blue-hued roofed turrets and burnt-orange doorways. The citadel is among the major sights for guests to Slovakia. Many movie administrators have used the citadel to shoot their motion pictures.
The citadel that sits on this location right this moment is definitely the newest model. It sits on the location of an Eleventh-century medieval citadel owned by Hungarian royalty. Enjoyable reality – as a result of territory politics and the redrawing of borders, there are an enormous variety of ethnic Hungarians residing in Slovakia. The identical goes for Romania and different nations bordering the present nation of Hungary.
Bojnice Fort can also be dwelling to many beloved Slovak annual occasions. These embrace the Summer season Music Pageant, the Fairytale competition, and the Worldwide Pageant of Ghosts and Spirits.
To achieve the citadel, take a prepare from Bratislava. After arriving in Prievidza, you must take a 15-minute bus trip to Bojnice. The whole journey takes about 4 hours. Should you’re driving, the trip is simply over two hours.
Spiš Fort
Spišský hrad, aka the citadel of Spiš, is among the most stunning castles in Slovakia. The citadel is essentially in ruins. Nonetheless, it’s a must-see on a listing of the most effective issues to do in Slovakia.
The citadel itself, as with many different Slovak castles, sits upon a hill. The citadel was initially erected over 800 years in the past. Sadly, it discovered its demise in a fireplace within the late 18th century.
These days, the Slovak authorities invests increasingly more money and time with a view to restore and preserve their historic buildings and cultural heritage.
You possibly can tour the citadel’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 system. I extremely advocate utilizing the information, because it explains many issues concerning the citadel which may be neglected with out it.
You possibly can hint the citadel partitions which overlook the grounds under, together with many of the village. Relying on the climate, you’ve vistas spanning miles. It’s a really fantastic sight.
It’s best to go to Spiš Fort for those who’re based mostly in Košice. From right here, public transport takes below two hours. Should you’re based mostly in Bratislava and are actually set on visiting the citadel, lease a automotive. Remember to set your alarm early, because the drive takes round three and a half hours.
Halič Fort
A go to to Halič Fort would possibly set you again just a few {dollars}, relying on the aim of your journey. Should you’re simply visiting the citadel, it gained’t price an excessive amount of. Nevertheless, for those who’d be fascinated with spending the night time at Halič Fort, it presently operates as a luxurious boutique lodge. That is the easiest way to get a style of how Slovak aristocrats really lived in yesteryear.
Information of Halič Fort 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. Right now, 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 may attain the citadel in just below three hours by automotive. Should you’re counting on public transportation, maybe it’s greatest to e-book a room. The journey takes round 4 and a half hours by bus.
Trenčín Fort
Undoubtedly one of the vital stunning castles in Slovakia is Trenčín Fort, which sits excessive atop a steep rock in Trenčín. Not solely is that this one of the vital stunning in Slovakia, it’s additionally one of many largest castles within the entirety of Europe!
The citadel itself is separated into two palaces and its trademark tower. Guests to Trenčín Fort notably benefit from the bastion and the dungeon, although there are additionally quite a lot of everlasting and short-term exhibitions to take pleasure in. The citadel can also 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 stunning areas. Due to the hearth, nonetheless, Trenčín Fort surrendered any and all army significance. The citadel’s most up-to-date proprietor donated the citadel to the city of Trenčín within the earliest years of the Twentieth century.
If, like me, you take pleasure in guided excursions of locations of historic significance, then don’t plan to go to in January. In January, you gained’t discover any guides at Trenčín Fort. In any other case, guides can be found in a wide range of languages, mostly Slovak and English.
From Bratislava, a prepare trip right here takes below two hours, making for a straightforward day journey.
Smolenice Fort
Regardless of the truth that Smolenice Fort isn’t as properly often called a number of the others on this record, it’s really one in all Slovakia’s most stunning castles. Its shut proximity to Bratislava makes for a straightforward day journey as properly. You possibly can attain the citadel in solely an hour by automotive!
The citadel is located in Smolenice, a picture-perfect village within the little Carpathians. Smolenice Fort 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 a variety of strain on the Slovak authorities, restoration efforts lastly got here to fruition and subsequently ended within the mid 1900s.
Right now, the citadel formally belongs to the Slovak Academy of Science. Although the constructing is primarily utilized for a myriad of scientific conferences held within the nation, it additionally often hosts weddings. Some elements of the citadel are open to the general public for guests, and it’s extremely advisable you examine these out!
Orava Fort
Orava Fort was initially constructed within the Kingdom of Hungary within the thirteenth century. No, they didn’t transfer the citadel! As I discussed above, following World Struggle 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 Fort presently stands.
Although it’s not among the many largest of the Slovak Castles, there’s no query it is among the most stunning. It’s considerably paying homage to Bran Fort (Dracula’s Fort), and lots of vampire motion pictures have been filmed right here all through the years.
The citadel stands on a steep rock cliff overlooking the village under. Much like a lot of Slovakia’s castles, this stance provides it a pure defensive edge.
Following the second World Struggle, the citadel turned a prized treasure and nationwide monument.
If you go to Orava Fort, you’ll tour replicas of royal rooms, reveals on nationwide historical past in addition to the Tatra Mountains. Anticipate to spend a minimum of two hours right here, longer if you wish to get actually in-depth.
Don’t overlook to deliver your digicam – the gorgeous vistas overlooking Oravský Podzámok are price a go to on their very own.
Orava Fort is located within the northern a part of the nation. It’s not too simply accessible by public transportation, so your best choice can be to lease a automotive or be a part of a guided tour. Its shut proximity to the Polish border makes it an ideal possibility for a day journey from Zakopane.
Čachtice Fort
The ruins of Čachtice Fort, located within the Carpathian Mountains, are in all probability essentially the most mysterious on the record, with the darkest historical past. The final citadel resident was none aside from notorious chatelaine Elizabeth Báthory. By no means heard of her? Learn on.
The citadel was initially constructed within the thirteenth century as a defensive fortress meant to protect the border of the Kingdom of Hungary. Nevertheless, through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, its objective remodeled to turn out to be the residence of countess Elizabeth Báthory. Her nickname the ‘Bloody Countess’ was greater than applicable contemplating her popularity. 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 is able to indirectly protect her personal magnificence and youth. Strolling a effective line between native legend and historic reality, the thriller and historical past of Čachtice Fort makes it a really interesting place for vacationers.
Although you may’t tour the citadel within the conventional sense, contemplating it’s primarily ruins, you could find many gorgeous panoramas and delicate to average mountaineering. The citadel was demolished within the early 1600s through the Bohemian Revolt.
You possibly can entry Čachtice Fort through prepare from Bratislava. The journey takes simply over an hour, although it must be famous that upon departing the prepare, a steep hike is required to achieve the citadel.
Bratislava Fort
Bratislava Fort, with its iconic white facade and brilliant pink roof, is definitely essentially the most visited citadel in Slovakia. That is in fact, as a result of its prime location overlooking the Slovak capital metropolis. Nonetheless, its pristine situation and aesthetic enchantment earn it a spot on the record of essentially the most stunning castles in Slovakia.
The Bratislava Fort is a huuuuge fortress with 4 spired turrets strategically positioned on a hill overlooking the Danube river. Information of the Bratislava Fort date again as early because the ninth century. It oversaw the coronation of 19 former monarchs. Even though the citadel fell totally to destruction within the nineteenth century, it was later restored within the mid-Twentieth century. It’s presently a nationwide cultural monument in addition to the unofficial image of Bratislava.
On the plush inexperienced citadel grounds, you could find completely secluded spots to calm down and take within the splendor of town in addition to some epic views.
It’s free to stroll by means of the citadel grounds and admire its magnificence from the skin, nonetheless, to tour the inside has a meager admission worth. Positively take the tour, as you’ll achieve far more perception into the citadel’s historical past.
Stará Ľubovňa Fort
Stará Ľubovňa Fort is unquestionably one of many lesser-known castles we’ve talked about. Although not as well-liked as a number of the others, it’s nonetheless well-deserving of a spot on this record.
Located within the northeast space of Spiš, the Stará Ľubovňa Fort affords guests a glimpse into its considerable and alluring historical past.
The citadel 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 accommodate the
Nestled within the north-east of Spis lies the magnificent Stara Lubovna Fort, 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? Maybe Slovak castles would have been clever to equip with anti-combustion supplies.
These days, you may go to the citadel to tour its lush gardens and the museum that it homes on the inside. Whilst you’re within the space, you’ll want to go to the open-air ethnographic museum that sits below the citadel partitions.
Devin Fort
The picturesque ruins of Devin Fort (Hrad Devin) are located atop a hill overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers. From its prime hilltop location, you may even see the suburbs of Vienna on the alternative aspect of the river.
It’s straightforward to think about how this alternative location can be perfect for a fortress. Shut your eyes and picture the citadel in a better-preserved state, thwarting sieges with its imposing stance. The ruins you may see right this moment 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 circulation beneath the ruins of Devin Fort acted as a pure border of the Iron Curtain, separating the totally different spheres of affect through the Chilly Struggle. The citadel remained transformed for army use till the autumn of the Iron Curtain in 1989. Right now, it’s open to guests to discover.
Located a mere 12km exterior Bratislava, you may surmise (appropriately) that it’s pretty well-liked with vacationers. Nonetheless, you’d by no means think about it’s so near a capital metropolis given its lush inexperienced environment. Pack a picnic and you might even be capable of share a snack with one of many native goats that often graze the citadel grounds.
To achieve Devin Fort from Bratislava, take both bus 29 or 129 from Most SNP. Should you’re visiting through the summer season months, you may even take a Danube River cruise.
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