Ruins Drážovce

In the middle of Krupinská planina, at the end of a rocky promontory, the zrúcanina hradu Čabraď castle ruin rises in the embrace of the Litava stream. This place breathing with history is situated southeast of the village of Čabradský Vrbovok, in the Krupina district. The remains of the Gothic castle are still massive and impressive today. Here you can admire the remnants of fortifications, structures, and outer walls of residential buildings. You can reach the castle hill on a comfortable walk from the village in approximately 50 minutes. The easy route leads you through the adjacent forest, across the river, past the building and chapel of the Koháry family, all the way to the mysterious ruin.

History is mysteriously silent about the castle's origins. However, it is assumed that its role was to control the road connection from Šahy to Krupina. Sources even mention that two castles with the same name were located on the castle hill. The older Litava castle vanished at the beginning of the 14th century. It was reportedly located southeast of the new Litava castle, which was later named Čabraď. Its origins date back before 1342, and its first royal administrator was supposedly Charles Robert. Subsequently, the building frequently changed owners until its last owner, František Koháry, had it set on fire in 1812. Miraculously, despite the devastating fire, the castle did not turn completely to waste, but fell into oblivion for long decades. At the end of the 20th century, the first conservation of the courtyard took place, and since 2000, a local civic association has been taking care of the ruin.

In its time, the castle complex consisted of a dominant tower and a courtyard with residential palaces and utility buildings. The entrance led from the northern side via a drawbridge. The outer perimeter fortification protected the castle on the western side. On three sides, the Litava stream provided strategic protection for the castle. The eastern part consisted of a residential building, the southwest featured a gate with a bastion, and the south had an entrance gate with a tower, loopholes, and a bridge.

The ruin is freely accessible to the public today. A civic association takes care of maintaining the remaining fortifications and residential building ruins that recall the bygone glory of the monumental structure. Primarily thanks to them, the castle complex is not overgrown by vegetation and remains easily accessible to visitors. Thanks to their hard work, you also do not have to worry about a large presence of snakes at the castle. Čabradský hradný vrch is actually a nature reserve with the richest population of reptiles in Slovakia. Numerous grass snakes live here in particular.

In addition to the mysterious zrúcanina hradu Čabraď, you can also take a trip in the nearby area to the remains of hrad Cerovo castle or the sprawling Bzovník fortress. And if you long for a bird's-eye view of the surrounding natural beauty, you can head to Rozhľadňa na Prašnom vrchu lookout tower or the stone watchtower Vartovka. There are truly plenty of excursion options and tourist attractions in the surroundings of Krupina. We therefore recommend looking for accommodation near hrad Čabraď and setting out to explore this diverse region. Accommodation in Krupina is particularly appealing due to a wide range of popular cottages and chalets, which attract tourists and holidaymakers with the promise of comfort and convenient access. Will you let yourself be tempted as well?

Among the popular destinations for tourists today are the now minuscule remains of the Cerovo castle ruins, which are located near the village of the same name. Set out for the Krupina district. Approximately 20 km southeast of this district town, between the hills of the Krupina forest on the northern end of Pustý vrch, once stood a beautiful castle.

Hrad Cerovo, which many also knew under the name Litava, is best accessible directly from the main route Dudince – Veľký Krtíš. Past the turnoff towards the village, you will see a bridge leading over the Litava stream. Here you can park your car and set off on foot for the castle hill. The ascent up from this side is steeper and is mostly manageable only by hikers in good physical condition. For families with older children or less fit hikers, we recommend the ascent via the ridge of Pustý vrch, which can be reached via a field road. Breathing in the fresh air, listening to the chirping of birds, and admiring the beauty of the mixed forest will delight the soul of every person.

After ascending to the summit, the area of the former castle, which is currently hidden by the forest, is clearly visible. However, two large sections separated by a moat will not escape the attentive eye of the visitor. Unfortunately, this is all that has been preserved of it. The first mention of the castle dates back to 1276. At that time, it was built by Hontpazmányi named Hont. In some sources, the construction of the castle is linked to his son Dezider the Great. The castle did not live to see its glory partly because it was destroyed in the 14th century. Its restoration no longer took place, as the nearby Hrad Čabraď had been built.

Even though almost nothing remains of the castle, a trip here is worth your while due to the beautiful environment and the wonderful view from the castle hill. For the journey, you can pack various snacks in your backpack and treat yourself to a day in the company of those with whom you feel pleasant. The bolder ones might be tempted by the idea of pitching a tent in the forest and watching the stars shining in the mysterious sky after dark. For others, it is more realistic to book accommodation near Hrad Cerovo, so that, for example, on a nice summer morning, they can set out to observe the surroundings from this spot.

After this hike, you can see for yourself with your own eyes what condition the aforementioned Hrad Čabraď castle is currently in. It was built in the Gothic style and its remains astonish people to this day. Those who are not afraid of heights will certainly be interested in the lookout tower on Prašný vrch, or perhaps the stone watchtower Vartovka. Horse lovers will find what they are looking for at Ranč pod Žobrákom. They will gladly rent you bicycles here as well, so you can discover the undiscovered beauties of the Hont region.

Believe us that staying here for a longer time is worth it. To convince yourself, choose from the offer of accommodation facilities featured on our portal. Will a photo of the living room of a chalet in Cerovo intrigue you, or will a photo of an apartment catch your eye instead? It all depends solely on you. Whether you decide based on feelings or other criteria of your choice will dictate, we will be happy to help you.

In the district of Banská Štiavnica, the highest peak of Štiavnické vrchy, the Sitno peak, is the dominant feature. Right on it, you can find the ruins of the famous Sitno castle, which provided defense against enemies. Visit the village of Ilija, into whose cadastral area Sitniansky hrad falls.

The history of Sitno castle dates back to the 13th century, when it was established as a fortified hillfort on this peak. Three centuries later, a gate with a defensive function was added. The castle consisted of two parts: the upper castle palace and the lower castle. This castle was not lacking a courtyard, a water cistern, or loopholes either. Unfortunately, in the 18th century, estate uprisings definitively destroyed the castle, leaving only a ruin.

During its era of greatest prosperity, the castle was besieged in 1548 by royal troops. At that time, it was seized by the robber knight Melichar Balassa. Less than a hundred years later, the castle passed into the permanent care of the Koháry family. They remained the owners of the castle until its destruction. After 1710, at the end of the anti-Habsburg uprisings, the castle served as a source of building material for Rozhľadňa na Sitne and Kaštieľ vo Svätom Antone.

If you are intrigued by the history of the castle and remember various legends, one tells the tale of the fate of two brothers, the knights of Sitno. The older one received the entire estate from his father on his deathbed; the younger one was not happy with this and built his own castle on Malé Sitno. There may be some truth to these legends shrouded in mystery about Sitno castle.

You can reach Sitno castle by car from the village of Ilija. Following the green hiking trail (an asphalt path through Vlčia jama), the ascent is less demanding, though it takes longer. A path also leads to the castle from Počúvadlianske jazero, also along the green trail past cottages through the forest. After a while, you will reach Tatárska lúka with an educational trail, from where you can take the blue trail directly to the castle.

Along with visiting the castle, it is a great idea to plan an ascent to the Sitno peak. It is also possible to complete it on horseback. A horse, along with a professional guide, can be rented for you at Ranč Nádej in Svätý Anton. You can travel back into history at Kaštieľ vo Svätom Antone. If you come as a family with children, it is a good idea to book accommodation near Sitno castle in advance. In the village of Ilija, there is a choice of several guest houses or private accommodations in Ilija. We believe that you will fully enjoy your time conquering this attraction, also thanks to pleasant accommodation in Slovakia.