Manor houses Dravce

In the northern part of the Poprad Basin, at the confluence of the Poprad and the Beliansky stream, lies the town of Spišská Belá. Right here you will find a gem of Slovak Renaissance architecture, kaštieľ Strážky. Spišská Belá is situated in the Prešov Region, in the district of Kežmarok, approximately 20 km north of Poprad, the gateway to the tourist-beloved Vysoké Tatry. The local manor house attracts visitors not only with its charming architecture, but also with valuable permanent exhibitions and occasional programming by the Slovenská národná galéria. The charm of this unique place is completed by an 19th-century English park, which is made for a romantic stroll.

Art lovers can let themselves be enchanted by four permanent exhibitions in kaštieľ Strážky. Two of them are presentations of visual art pieces. The exhibition Portrét 17.–19. storočia na Spiši is a collection of portraits consisting largely of works from the family gallery of the former owners of the manor house (the Horváth-Stansith, Szirmay, Mednyánszky, and Czóbel families, as well as Spiš families such as Csáky, Esterházy, etc.). The second visual art exhibition, entitled Ladislav Mednyánszky a Strážky, is the only permanent exhibition in Slovakia presenting the works of one of the main representatives of Central European painting of the last third of the 19th and early 20th century, Ladislav Mednyánszky. The exhibition is a selection from a comprehensive body of the artist's works, which primarily come from his early periods and document individual stages of the development of his artistic style.

The third interesting exhibition of the picturesque manor house is Historická knižnica Strážky, which is part of the national cultural heritage. Its origins date back to the last quarter of the 16th century. The impressive collection contains an incredible 8,500 volumes, magazines, and maps. The last exhibition of the Slovenská národná galéria can be viewed by visitors in the premises of kaštieľ Strážky. Under the title Sochárstvo na Slovensku v 20. storočí, works of important Slovak sculptors from the second half of the 20th century are presented here in the impressive setting of the English park. The picturesque park grounds blend pleasantly with the riverbed of the Poprad River and the surrounding countryside. It thus creates a beautiful scenery for a pleasant walk with an artistic touch.

A magnificent artistic object is undoubtedly the building of kaštieľ Strážky itself. It was built on the foundations of a Gothic castle. Later owners, the Horváth-Stansith family, gradually rebuilt it into a beautiful Renaissance manor house. This picturesque manor house acquired its present appearance through a reconstruction in the 17th century. A typical square floor plan with an inner courtyard was created by adding a fourth wing after a fire at the beginning of the 18th century. Kaštieľ Strážky, together with the kostol sv. Anny and a Renaissance bell tower in the historic town center, forms a national cultural monument.

Can you get enthusiastic about art and architectural monuments set in unique outdoor scenery? If so, definitely do not miss a visit to Spišská Belá and kaštieľ Strážky during your holiday in the Tatras. You can combine a trip here with a tour of Belianska jaskyňa, the largest and only accessible high-mountain dripstone cave in the Tatranský národný park. A matter of course during a holiday in this region is a wide range of accommodation near kaštieľ Strážky. Accommodation in Kežmarok presents a broad spectrum of apartments, guesthouses, picturesque villas, cottages, and chalets. You will certainly find something to your liking here.

The manor house in the village of Markušovce is one of the most representative buildings of the southern Spiš region. Together with the summer house Dardanely, it is situated in the setting of a magnificent French park with three stepped terraces. Come and see the unique exhibition of keyboard musical instruments and historical furniture. At the same time, the summer house is a place where various musical events regularly take place, especially classical music concerts.

The history of the manor house dates back to 1643 and is associated with the name František Mariássy. The original building was in the Renaissance style. Following a change of owners, it was rebuilt into the Rococo style between 1770 and 1775. Shortly after, the new owner Wolfgang Mariássy had the summer house Dardanely built in the garden. The manor house served its owners as a fortified residence for over 100 years. Following extensive reconstruction of the manor house, which took place between 1983 and 1994, a permanent exhibition of historical furniture is located here.

The main goal of the historical furniture exhibition is to point out the development of individual types of interior accessories and their chronological arrangement from the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century. Individual pieces originating from the older period of classicism, empire, or Biedermeier can be found on the upper floor. Furniture from the younger period, representing historicisms, can be found on the ground floor. The exhibition is complemented by examples of crafts and applied arts, and you can also find collections of glass, porcelain, and period costumes. Also interesting is the collection of historical weapons, clocks, and mirrors. A special part consists of paintings by prominent painters such as J. Rombauer, J. Czauczik, or J. J. Stunder. The exhibited pieces of furniture come from Kaštieľ Markušovce as well as Kaštieľ Hodkovce.

The magnificent representative hall in letohrádok Dardanely is decorated with grand frescoes and still serves as a concert hall today. Did you know that this charming building was constructed specifically to welcome Emperor Joseph II? In the summer house, you can view a splendid exhibition of historical keyboard musical instruments, which is the only one of its kind in Slovakia.

The manor house in Markušovce together with summer house Dardanely is definitely worth visiting. And if you still have the urge to explore, put on your hiking boots and head to the Hornádska kotlina. Approximately 5 km from the village of Markušovce, you will find Markušovský skalný hríb, which is reportedly the largest of its kind in all of Europe. Children will surely be delighted if you visit the zoo and Alex park in Spišská Stará Ves with them. The Spiš region is practically packed with great attractions, so book your dream holiday today. You can find a wide range of accommodation in the vicinity of Kaštieľ Markušovce on our page accommodation Markušovce. We wish you a successful holiday full of unforgettable experiences.