Ruins Gemer

If you decide to visit the Gemer region, you have a unique opportunity to see the remains of one of the oldest Slovak castles. Hrad Gemer or also Gemerský hrad is located on an elevated hill above the village of the same name at an altitude of 232 m a. s. l.

The castle was built on the site of an old Slavic hillfort, probably in the late 11th century. The first written mention of the castle dates back to the late 12th century. It got its name after its first owner, the knight Gumurum (or Gumur). Originally a timber-earth castle, it played its first important role in the fights against the Tatars. Between 1241 and 1242, it was rebuilt into a stronger stone tower-type object. It was the property of the king and fulfilled not only a guarding and defensive role, but also an important economic one.

The ore- and forest-rich region of Gemer developed relatively quickly. In the 14th century, Gemer became the seat of the county and was the second largest small town in the region with the right to hold markets. In the 15th century, two bridges were built across the Slaná river, where tolls were collected. The castle, which guarded the bridges, was never very large. It was more of a guarding fortress surrounded by an earthen rampart. In the 15th century, the structure was conquered by the Hussites. In 1459, the castle was reconquered by King Matej Korvín, while being destroyed. Later it was restored and changed owners several times. In the 16th century, it was definitively destroyed in the Turkish wars.

If you plan a trip to it, you will find that not much is left of the castle today. However, the attentive eye of a visitor will not miss the castle plateau with configuration waves from the destroyed structures. There is a beautiful view of the surroundings from the castle hill. If you climb there, you can learn something about the famous Hussite Panna Cinka. Or will you be more interested in the legend about King Matej Korvín? His stay at this place is also commemorated by a life-size bronze statue. It is interesting because it is the only statue in Europe that depicts a monarch with a working tool.

There is also plenty to admire below the castle. In the 19th century, an Evangelical gymnasium was established in the town, where such significant personalities as Janko Matuška, Ján Kalinčiak, or Janko Kráľ studied. One of the most important poets of Slovak romanticism, Samo Chalúpka, influenced by this place, describes the hard anti-Turkish struggles in the Gemer region in his poem as follows: Sharp sabres flash, spears crack, and the Slovak earth drinks the blood of its sons.

History lovers will probably also be interested in the story of the nearby Hrad Jelšava. Or will you rather visit one of the most impressive Slovak castles Krásna Hôrka? On hot summer days, you certainly won't refuse cooling refreshment in the waves of the Vodná nádrž Teplý vrch water reservoir or boating on the coldest Slovak dam Palcmanská Maša. A unique natural phenomenon that is worth visiting is the magnificent Ochtinská aragonitová jaskyňa.

This amazing region will provide you with several options where you can lay your head and rest before another wonderful day. Book accommodation near Gemerský hrad. Will you be appealed by the offer of romantic Gemer cottages, or will you rather prefer comfortable and affordable Gemer apartments? We will leave that solely to your choice.

In the village of Drienčany in the Rimavská Sobota district, the birthplace of the famous fairytale writer Pavol Dobšinský, you will find the ruins of a castle built in the 13th century. Although only minimal remnants of its walls have been preserved, this former medieval seat is shrouded in various stories and legends regarding its demise. Set off to find the castle hill and view the remaining ruins of Drienčanský hrad.

You can reach the castle directly from the village of Drienčany. The ruins are located on the edge of the village on an elevated castle hill. An information board in the village will direct you to the castle. Some of the local residents remember legends about the flooding of the castle by Hunyadi's troops. However, according to existing sources, the castle only fell into ruin in the 17th century. From that time on, it gradually deteriorated until the last remaining parts of the castle walls became overgrown with lush vegetation. The castle ruins are situated near a former quarry. One of the local stories mentions the quarry workers themselves, who blew open the cellar walls of the already ruined castle using dynamite. It is said they found wine so old in them that it was no longer even liquid. On the meadow of the castle hill, a booming sound can still be heard in some places when walking. This fact is also said to be evidence of the castle cellars, which are no longer accessible in any way.

If old castles and ruins attract you, we have a few tips for you in the surrounding area. Do not miss Hrad Sobôtka in Rimavská Sobota or Hrad Blh in the nearby village of Veľký Blh. Although only wall remnants remain that barely recall the once majestic castles with defensive ramparts, these places still hold their charm, especially for lovers of ruins.

The Gemersko-malohontské múzeum in Rimavská Sobota, which is the fifth oldest museum in Slovakia, will also immerse you in history. Take a look at permanent exhibitions such as History of Art or Ethnology, which is dedicated to several aspects of folk culture in the Gemer region. Choose accommodation near Drienčanský hrad and discover beautiful hidden corners. Book a modern apartment or a cozy guesthouse and enjoy your trip.

Once a majestic Turkish water fortress, today an inconspicuous ruin marked by the ravages of time. Hrad Sobôtka, a silent monument to the Ottoman Empire, is situated in Rimavská Sobota, on the right bank of the Rimava River in the Rimavská kotlina basin. Of the tower protected by four bastions, barracks, a mosque, and other residential and farm buildings, today only barely recognizable stone walls overgrown with vegetation remain. Despite this, the place possesses its own unusual charm breathing with history.

Rimavská Sobota was part of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. Right here, on the ruins of the original Hussite fort, the Turks built one of their northernmost fortresses in 1555. The Rimava River formed the natural protection of the water castle. Traditional fortifications were created by wooden stakes sealed with packed clay. The centerpiece of the castle was a tower protected by four bastions. Military barracks, a mosque, and several farm and residential buildings were located in the surrounding area.

An interesting fact is that during its heyday, the fortress was also meant to serve as a treasury. Legend has it that villages brought their taxes here, which the Turks levied on them in exchange for not destroying their settlements. It is even said that the castle was once the seat of an administrative district. After the end of the Turkish conflicts, the castle lost its significance and over the years fell into ruin to its present state.

Access to the ruins is quick and easy. From Rimavská Sobota, drive towards the Sobôtka borough. From the nearby parking lot, you can reach the remains of the castle walls in just a few minutes. Since the castle had the character of a water fortress, it is located right next to the Rimava River. However, the access trail is unpaved.

If you enjoy discovering places with the atmosphere of times long past, make sure not to miss a trip to the ruins of the almost forgotten Hrad Sobôtka during your stay in Rimavská Sobota. And if this place charms you, you can also head to the nearby ruins of Hrad Hodejov or Hrad Blh. After an interesting journey through history, you can enjoy a well-deserved rest on the beach at the Vodná nádrž Teplý Vrch reservoir or at the Termálne kúpalisko Kurinec – Zelená voda thermal pool. The holiday plan is ready, so start looking for accommodation near Hrad Sobôtka. Accommodation in Rimavská Sobota and its surroundings will certainly not disappoint you with its hospitality.

If you are drawn to ruins and old castles, you should certainly direct your attention to Hrad Hodejov, located in the Rimavská Sobota district, in the historical region of Malohont. You can reach the castle ruins via a pleasant walk from the charming village of Hodejov, situated on the left bank of the Gortva stream, about 20 km southwest of Rimavská Sobota. The remaining walls of the extinct castle proudly stand at an altitude of approximately 263 m above sea level on a steep rocky hill of Cerová vrchovina.

Although only minor remnants of its foundations have been preserved today, the castle once proudly resisted the onslaughts of both the Hussites and the Turks. Historians and archaeologists can now only assume that the path to the castle bypassed the castle complex and was guarded by a bastion on the northeast. The perimeter wall was up to 3 meters thick, the outer bailey had the shape of an elongated oval, and the castle area did not feature a tower. The castle was built in the second half of the 13th century, and the first written mention of it dates back to 1281. It mentions the battle between the Hungarian King Ladislaus the Cuman and Palatine Finta of the Aba family. The battle took place right in the open area below Hrad Hodejov. The royal army triumphed and occupied the castle. The history of the castle is very interesting; several battles were fought over its ownership, and over the centuries it had multiple castle lords who acquired it mostly through combat. In 1560, the castle resisted Ottoman attacks, despite not being fortified. Consequently, the Hungarian Diet ordered Hodejov to be fortified only in 1567, but it was already too late. The Turks conquered and devastated the castle in 1571, and it was never restored again. In modern times, the remains of the castle walls were dismantled for building material, and the site was also significantly damaged by a quarry. In 1962, archaeological research took place in the locality of Hodejov, revealing and confirming a prehistoric settlement. Archaeologists found as many as 371 pieces of bronze treasure from the Hallstatt period. That is all the more reason to visit this magical place.

And what kind of ruin would it be if it were not tied to an engaging legend? In ancient Hungarian times, when Lord Hodejovský left with his retinue on one of many military expeditions, Maiden Ľudmila, the niece of his childless wife, visited the castle. One night, someone knocked on the castle gate. They were nuns begging for shelter because their convent had been devastated. The trusting lady of the castle invited them inside, unaware that they were actually disguised women of easy virtue from the gang of the robber knight Kompolt, who had taken a liking to young Ľudmila. They stole all the valuables from the castle and kidnapped Maiden Ľudmila. Against her will, little Ľudmila lived with her kidnapper for some time until she finally managed to outsmart him. When news of the death of Lord Hodejovský arrived, she persuaded Kompolt that she was the one who would inherit Hodejov, and once they married, the castle would belong to him as her lawful husband. The greedy knight did not hesitate, and they quickly moved to the castle along with the valuables that the fake nuns had previously taken away. The bride immediately began preparing the wedding and inviting guests so that the celebration would be proper. But imagine the prospective groom's surprise when the castle filled not with wedding guests, but with the royal army. The robber gang led by Kompolt was placed in the dungeon, and order was restored in the region.

If you set out in the footsteps of clever Ľudmila, plan your route through the village of Hodejov, where iron baths and a steam mill operated as early as the 19th century. During the same period, the revolutionary Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi, one of the most prominent figures of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, stayed here. He lived in the Hodejov manor house and was undoubtedly inspired in his work by the charming environment of the picturesque village and the ruins towering on the castle hill. Today, Hodejov is the starting point of the green hiking trail leading to Steblová skala, the Ragáč peak, and Hrad Hajnáčka. Find accommodation near Hrad Hodejov and set off on a hike through Cerová vrchovina or on a sightseeing tour of the sights right in the idyllic village. Worth visiting are the charming Kaplnka sv. Anny built on the castle hill in 1895, the Early Neoclassical Kúria Prónaiovcov, and the Eclectic Kaštieľ Dr. Emila Stojkovicsa. Furthermore, St. Hubert's hunting celebrations are organized in the village every year. Join in and plan an unforgettable trip with accommodation in guest houses or apartments in Gemer.

When visiting the southernmost part of Central Slovakia and hiking through Cerová vrchovina, do not forget to come to Hrad Hajnáčka. It is an impressive ruin of a Gothic castle, standing proudly on top of a cone-shaped hill directly above the village of Hajnáčka. The castle rock is formed by a basalt effusion of volcanic origin and, according to archaeologists, it was already inhabited in the Stone Age, which only enhances the grandeur of this site. Although the ruins of the castle rise to an altitude of only 355 m above sea level, the castle rock offers a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape of Cerová vrchovina and nearby Hungary. Looking east from the village of Hajnáčka, you will see the Ragáč massif, a national nature reserve where volcanic caves are located. Southwest of Ragáč, you can observe the national natural monument Kostná dolina, which is the most important sapphire site in the entire Carpathian mountain range. A small sample of the blue gemstone from Kostná dolina is located in the Gemersko-malohontské múzeum v Rimavskej Sobote, and another piece can be found at the Prírodovedecká fakulta Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave.

The fortification on the rock was built in the 13th century, and its origins are written about in a charter of King Bela IV from 1245. The foundations of the castle itself were laid in 1247. The fortress is subsequently mentioned in 1320, when King Charles I Robert acquired it into his ownership and granted it for merits to the prominent noble family Széchényi. From the 15th century, the castle changed its castle lords and became an important stronghold in the defense against the Turks, who nevertheless eventually conquered it, occupied it, and abandoned it only after the fall of Fiľakovo in 1593. After the expulsion of the Turks, the castle was repaired and fortified, but in 1645 Turkish allies occupied it briefly again. After they were pushed out once more by the imperial army, the castle was thoroughly reconstructed, but unfortunately, in 1703 it burned down and has been decaying ever since. In the times of its greatest glory, a palace stood on the highest part of the rock, protected by two belts of castle wall and a bastion. An interesting feature is the castle rock, which formed part of the ramparts as well as the interior architecture, and a staircase was even carved into it. If you are attentive, in the overgrown pieces of masonry you will spot the remains of the castle walls and the carved staircase, which form the last monument to the former anti-Turkish fortress.

By the way, there is a very nice legend about the name of the castle, telling of a ruler and his daughter. While hunting a deer, the ruler lost his precious sword and his daughter decided to find it. She succeeded, and on her way back, she even killed a wild boar that had attacked a shepherd using her father's sword, thereby saving his life. A handsome young man witnessed this brave deed, fell in love with the girl at first sight, and married her. Out of love for her, he named the castle where they lived after his wife, Hajnáčka.

The ascent to Hrad Hajnáčka is relatively short with a gentle incline. The trail is about 400 meters long and can easily be handled even by smaller children. You can reach the castle rock from the village of Hajnáčka by following the yellow mark along a romantic path leading between small houses and through narrow alleys. The path will lead you right to an eye-catching wooden castle gate. From there, it is just a short distance to the castle ruins.

The nature reserve Hajnáčsky hradný vrch, declared in 1958, and the village of Hajnáčka are certainly worth a visit. The village in the central part of Cerová vrchovina, on the upper course of the Gortva stream, emerged in the mid-19th century thanks to a sulfur spring and the subsequent construction of a spa. Although you would look for the spa in Hajnáčka in vain today, you can visit, for example, an 18th-century chapel or a Neoclassical manor house from 1820. Book accommodation near Hrad Hajnáčka and explore the nearby towns of Fiľakovo or Rimavská Sobota. Set off on a tour of Fiľakovský hrad or to the Kúpele Číž spa and let yourself be captivated by the beauty of the region.