Ľupčiansky hrad
Our country is full of many castles. Famous ones, lesser-known ones, and those that are completely unknown. For many, Ľupčiansky hrad is certainly quite unknown as well. Despite the fact that it lies only a few kilometers from Banská Bystrica, not many tourists know about it. In general, the southern side of the Nízke Tatry mountains is overlooked. Try to change that, set off to Slovenská Ľupča, and you will see that you will not regret it.
A wooden hillfort originally stood on the site of the present castle. In 1241, the Tatars invaded our territory and conquered the old wooden castles. The stone ones resisted their attack. The builders of Ľupčiansky hrad were inspired by this and built a modern stone castle in 1250.
The castle had a significant defensive position and protected access roads to well-known mining towns. The most famous are certainly Banská Bystrica and Banská Štiavnica. An interesting fact is that the castle was damaged by an unconventional natural element. Fires were common at that time, but the castle in Slovenská Ľupča was damaged by something else, an earthquake. This struck the region in 1443 and severely damaged the castle above the Hron river itself. The repairs were followed by several reconstructions, the most significant of which was carried out by Pavol Rubigall, who started it in 1572.
After this period, the castle experienced exceptionally frequent changes of its owners. It was regularly conquered, plundered, and constantly ruled by someone else. From 1707, an Austrian military garrison as well as a prison were located here. From the second half of the 19th century, the significance of the castle declined. It was engulfed by fire and served other purposes. There was an orphanage, a school, a reformatory for juveniles, or a vocational school. However, the castle is a national cultural monument and is in a well-preserved state. It hides several surprises, one of which is an escape tunnel from the bottom of the castle well, which is more than 60 meters deep. Another unique feature is the linden tree growing in the lower courtyard. Locals call it Korvínova lipa, and its age is probably 700 years, making it one of the oldest linden trees in Central Europe.
At present, also thanks to an extensive reconstruction, the castle is in exceptionally good condition. In the 1990s, it was managed by the Regional Monuments Board, and since 2002, it has been owned by Železiarne Podbrezová. Thanks to this unconventional owner, the castle got a second chance. Significant reconstruction work took place, and the castle was made accessible to the public.
Slovenská Ľupča has several attractions in its vicinity. You can relax in the Kúpele Brusno spa and glimpse into recent history at the Múzeum SNP in Banská Bystrica. You will discover a rich mining past, all in the attractive environment of the Horehronie region. A pleasant extra bonus is quiet and cozy accommodation, whether in guesthouses or in private stays. This form has recently been extremely popular thanks to the comfort and peace it provides. Come and try it out in Slovenská Ľupča.
