Strečno Castle stands at the beginning of the Váh Gorge on a steep limestone rock at an altitude of about 420 m above sea level
The first documented settlement of the castle rock is much older – archaeological finds from here come from the Late Stone Age (Púchov culture). The castle has existed since the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, the first written mention dates back to 1321, it is explicitly mentioned in writing in 1384 as Strechyn. It protected the toll road around the Váh River.
After its foundation, Strečno Castle was the seat of the feudal estate of the “lord of Upper Hungary”, Matúš Čák Trenčianský, who was also referred to as the “lord of the Váh and the Tatras”. From the 15th century, the castle was the property of the Hungarian kings (or in the possession of queens Barbara and Elizabeth). After the Pongrác family of Liptovský Mikuláš, who owned Strečno in the years 1444-1469, the owners quickly changed here. Among the owners were Ján Korvín, Ján Zápolský, the Derssewffy, the Vesselényi and Löwenburgs, the castle was gradually expanded and rebuilt in the Renaissance style.
At the end of the 17th century, it provided protection to Thököly’s rebel soldiers. Therefore, Emperor Leopold I had it demolished by his army (the outer fortifications and partly the buildings were disturbed). Since then, the castle has only fallen into disrepair.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was necessary to conserve the castle walls (the walls began to collapse as a result of blasting during the breakthrough of the railway tunnel from Žilina to Vrútky). At the beginning of the 90s of the 20th century, a general overhaul began, which in some places erased the historical character of the ruins. Since 1995 , however, thanks to this reconstruction, the exteriors and interiors of the castle have been open to the public.
Access / Transport
Strečno Castle is perfectly accessible by road (it is located by the state road between Žilina and Vrútky, parking lot directly below the castle) and by train. From the Strečno railway stop in the village of Nezbudská Lúčka upstream of the Váh to the intersection of the yellow and red signs, then across the Váh River along the footbridge (the ferry also works ) and through the valley to the castle.
