Ruins Fričovce

If you enjoy going on trips into nature, head up to the cliff behind the town of Gelnica and discover the remains of Gelnický hrad castle. The history of this once grand residence dates back to 1234. In ancient times, it was also known as Thurzov hrad castle. Take a pleasant walk with your family and enjoy quality time spent together in nature. A marked hiking trail leading from the Banícke múzeum museum will guide you to the remains of this medieval fortress.

You will find the ruins of the castle in a place called „zámčisko“. The purpose of constructing the castle was to protect the town and its mines. Since its establishment, it went through many hands. During times of unrest and continuous battles for the Hungarian throne between Ferdinand I of Habsburg and John Zápolya, the castle was destroyed. Following Zápolya's defeat, Ferdinand I gifted Gelnický hrad castle to the nobleman Alexej Thurzo, who had it rebuilt and expanded.

The Thurzo family owned the castle until 1636, when its last male descendant, Michal Thurzo, passed away. For a short time, the castle became state property. In 1638, King Ferdinand III granted it to Count Štefan Csáky and his wife Eva Forgách. During the reign of the Csáky family, several uprisings broke out, during which the castle and the town changed hands repeatedly. The castle began to fall into disrepair, and from 1765 onwards, it served merely as a training ground for the hussars of Gelnica.

The final destruction was brought about by the town itself when it ordered the stone from the walls to be used for the construction of the town hall and adjacent buildings. It is assumed that the castle had four bastions and a main entrance on the eastern side. In addition to the main entrance, there were three other courtyards at the castle. The most well-preserved section is the torso of the castle tower with a window opening and a loophole.

During an archaeological survey in 1963, it was discovered that 14 underground tunnels lead out into the surroundings of the castle. Various artifacts were also found, such as keys, weapons, spurs, and other items. The castle ruins are freely accessible all year round. From the castle hill, you will enjoy a wonderful view over the entire town. If you head to the castle in autumn, your children will certainly be delighted by the chestnuts they find under the trees in the chestnut alley.

After visiting „zámčisko“, set off for Turzovské jazero lake and enjoy a great picnic on its shores. On your travels, you can also stop by the Banícke múzeum, which will introduce you to the history of mining in the area. In the surroundings of Gelnica, there are many fantastic attractions worth visiting. Don't wait and book your weekend stay in the Slovenské rudohorie mountains today. A wide selection of accommodation near the ruins of Gelnický hrad castle can be found on our page accommodation in Gelnica. We wish you a wonderful and undisturbed stay.

You can find the ruins of Kamenický hrad in the Čergov mountain range. The castle hill rises above the village of Kamenica, located in the district of Sabinov. An educational trail with ten stops will reliably guide you through the most interesting places of this historical structure and its surroundings. In addition to the beautiful natural scenery surrounding the limestone castle cliff, you will also enjoy magical views of the panorama of the wider area. In good visibility, you can see as far as Ľubovniansky hrad, Hanigovský hrad, and Šarišský hrad from the top of the castle hill.

The construction of the castle above Kamenica took place at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. The first written mention dates back to 1306, when the castle belonged to Rikolf Jr. According to documentary evidence, Rikolf built the castle at his own expense. The fortress's location near the Polish border suggests a military and defensive function in addition to a residential one. Throughout its history, the castle changed owners several times, but mostly belonged to the Traczay family. The year 1556 proved fatal for it, when it was conquered and began to fall into ruin. Currently, the preserved remnants are cared for by the civic association Kamenná veža. Among other things, it contributed to the construction of the educational trail, which was opened to visitors in 2009.

Of the monumental fortress, which ranked among the largest castles in Slovakia by area, you will currently find only minor original remnants on the castle hill. Thanks to the aforementioned civic association, the remediation of the remnants of the palace's northern wall was completed, and the mass of the tower and the northern bastion was stabilized. The castle complex is currently open to the public without restrictions. Access is relatively simple. A yellow hiking trail will bring you here directly from the village of Kamenica in about 30 minutes. From the village of Lúčka, you can reach the castle hill in approximately 45 minutes, and from the Potoky locality, also via the yellow route, in about 60 minutes.

Be sure to combine a trip to the remnants of Kamenického hrad with water relaxation and fun at Aquapark Lipany, a walk through the picturesque surroundings of Rožkovianske rybníky, or a visit to Miniskanzen drevených chrámov in the nearby village of Ľutina. There are many, many more tourist attractions and attractive trip destinations in this region. Book accommodation near Kamenického hrad and come see for yourself. You can choose from the selection of accommodation in Kamenica on our portal. Directly in the village and in the adjacent areas, you will find cottages and chalets extremely popular among tourists, which will provide you with an excellent starting location for local attractions. Alternatively, you can look for accommodation in Sabinov, where the options are somewhat broader.