Kapušany Castle

Kapušany Castle is a ruin of a castle above the village of Kapušany, above the road to Bardejov. It is situated on the rocky outcrop of the Zámčisko hill.

Švihov Water Castle – bell for the castle chapel of the coronation of the Virgin Mary

An important place among the fortification buildings belongs to the Švihov water castle, built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries on the site of a former fortress with the participation of the builder Benedikt Riet. The core of the castle consists of two residential wings, which are enclosed by internal regular courtyards. 

In the east, the presbytery of the chapel protrudes from the fence, in the west there is a massive prismatic tower. Around it ran the bailey, reinforced with bastions and surrounded by another moat. 

The castle interiors bring visitors closer to life in the 16th century. The chapel houses valuable sculptures, and the castle armoury is also remarkable. 

The castle houses a valuable set of Gothic art from the collections of the National Gallery. Historical exhibitions alternate in the exhibition hall. 
If we were to summarize what makes this monument so unique, then we will undoubtedly think of the enormous visionary that prompted the creation of the building. To build a perfectly protected building with ingenious equipment capable of flooding the surroundings with water in an instant (including the inner courtyard of the castle) and draining it again without the castle suffering damage, it required not only great imagination, but also considerable architectural experience. The West Bohemians thus have the best-preserved and at the same time the largest water castle in Bohemia in their Švihov “district”.

Strečno Castle

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. 

 

Red Stone

Červený Kameň is a Slovak castle that rises above the village of Častá on the southeastern slope of the Little Carpathians not far from the wine town of Modra, about 8 km west of Trnava.

Trenčín Castle

Trenčín Castle is a large old castle that rises directly above the Slovak city of Trenčín. Therefore, it is a characteristic landmark not only of the city itself, but also of the central Považie region. Today it is a national cultural monument of Slovakia.

Čachtice Castle – E. Bathory

The ruins of the guard castle, first mentioned. 1276. In 1299 the castle was conquered by M. Čák Trenčianský. In 1392 the castle was donated by King Ctibor I. of Beckov, in 1436 to Michal Orság. In 1602 it was bought by František Nádašdy. His grandson František made extensive modifications here in obd. 1664–70. In 1670 the castle was conquered and plundered.

Čachtice Castle – Ladislav Pex Sanctus

The ruins of the guard castle, first mentioned. 1276. In 1299 the castle was conquered by M. Čák Trenčianský. In 1392 the castle was donated by King Ctibor I. of Beckov, in 1436 to Michal Orság. In 1602 it was bought by František Nádašdy. His grandson František made extensive modifications here in obd. 1664–70. In 1670 the castle was conquered and plundered.

Banská Štiavnica – old castle

On the promontory of Paradise, the inhabitants of the city built the Church of the Virgin Mary in the 13th century, around which there was a cemetery. The church was built as a three-nave basilica with a square presbytery at the end of the main nave. On the opposite side of the nave, in its ground plan, stood a tower. In the 15th century, the church and cemetery were surrounded by a wall. At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the building was rebuilt into a Gothic hall church. In the 40s of the 16th century, it was rebuilt into an anti-Turkish fortress. The vault above the main nave was demolished, creating a courtyard. From the original Romanesque building, the perimeter walls of the original church, the northern and southern walls of the presbytery, the sacristy, the angular pillar, the towers, the stone linings on the 1st floor have been preserved. The Gothic reconstruction is commemorated by supporting pillars, cornices, spiral staircase and consoles. Building modifications in the 16th century are evidenced by the Renaissance portals on the 1st floor and the original painting in the so-called knight’s hall.

In the complex of the Old Castle there is the Chapel of St. Michael – a Romanesque rotunda building composed of two parts. The above-ground part, the chapel itself was called the carnarium. The bodies of the deceased were buried from there. The underground part was called ossarium – ossuary. Unbroken bones selected during the digging of new graves were placed in it. The chapel had a semicircular apse and a wooden attic. The remains of the frescoes date back to the 14th century.

To the right of the main entrance is the castle tower, originally Gothic with an underpass that led to the entrance to the castle. Now it has a Baroque appearance, which it received during the reconstruction into a bell tower in 1777. There are three bells in the tower.

The bastion called “Himmelreich” dates back to the 14th century. It was used as a ligament

Beckov Castle

Beckov Castle rises majestically on a 60-meter-high steep cliff above the village of the same name near the Váh River, where it has guarded the trade route leading through Považie since the 13th century. It was a castle of kings, powerful magnates and knights, a castle that resisted the Tatars and Turks. Its past is shrouded in legends that enhance the romance of its present form.

Beckov Castle Ctibor of Ctibořice

Beckov Castle rises majestically on a 60-meter-high steep cliff above the village of the same name near the Váh River, where it has guarded the trade route leading through Považie since the 13th century. It was a castle of kings, powerful magnates and knights, a castle that resisted the Tatars and Turks. Its past is shrouded in legends that enhance the romance of its present form.