Haličský zámok
In the Novohradský región region, whose center is the town of Lučenec, the magnificent Haličský zámok castle has stood for centuries. The jewel of Novohrad, as the castle is nicknamed, thrones on a lonely hill in the village of Halič, and the view of it looks like something straight out of a fairytale book. The origins of the original stone castle are assumed to date back to the 12th century. Over its long existence, however, it has also gone through difficult times. Two world wars, as well as the insensitive approach of the Communists, disrupted its original architecture, and so the once sumptuous seat of counts began to decay. New life was breathed into it only by the final reconstruction between 2005 and 2016, which transformed the abandoned castle into a grand castle hotel with a beautiful forest park and a pond.
The first written mention of Zámok Halič dates back to 1386, when the Hungarian Queen Mary granted permission to the nobleman Štefan Lossoncy to build a stone fortress. In the 16th century, the original owners were replaced by the Forgách family, who owned the Renaissance-Baroque property until 1948. Turbulent times full of uprisings and rebellions, however, took their toll on its exterior. The last reconstruction initiated by the Forgách family took place in 1897. The greatest damage to the seat occurred during World War I, when Hungarian soldiers looted it in 1919. The subsequent onset of the Communist regime in 1948 turned the historic monumental building into the headquarters of a JRD (Unified Agricultural Cooperative). The Social Care Institute for Mentally Disabled Youth Lučenec, which was housed here in the 1960s, also contributed to its detriment. From 1993, this historic building remained without an owner and thus began to wither away. Nature itself and antisocial groups of the population also contributed to its ruin.
Hope for the rebirth of the castle dawned in 2005, when the former aristocratic seat was bought by a Košice-based company. After demanding reconstruction works that lasted ten years, the ruin became a luxurious hotel with a restaurant, which also offers guided tours of designated areas. If you are wondering what you can see at the castle, the answer is simple. Right upon arrival, you will be captivated by the Arkádia castle hall, located under a glass dome. After the tour, you can relax here in a stylish castle café. The second largest and at the same time most representative space is the County Hall (Župná sieň), which boasts magnificent frescoes from 1762. The room also features unique Rococo tile stoves decorated with gold ornaments. On the walls hang paintings of the original owners, primarily from the Forgách family. Another interesting room is the Representative Apartment with original wooden beams and historic furniture.
Your tour will continue to the 1st floor, where you will be delighted by a corridor with a cycle of unique wall paintings depicting Hungarian monarchs from the 16th to 17th centuries. Part of Haličský zámok is also a beautiful Baroque fountain, a castle park with a rose garden, and a moat. The castle hotel is an ideal place for all lovers of history and nobility, as well as for a romantic wedding. You can say your "I do" in the local chapel, which was consecrated in 2017. If you have decided to visit the castle during the summer season, you can enjoy a romantic boat ride on the adjacent pond or a picnic on its shores.
If you still feel like exploring, head to the nearby village of Divín, where you will find the ruins of the Gothic Hrad Divín castle and the Zichyho kaštieľ manor house, which was once home to local landowners. End a demanding day full of history in a comfortable room of the Haličský apartmán. The complete range of accommodation near Zámok Halič will be displayed on the page accommmodation in Haliči. The next day can be spent on the shores of the Vodná nádrž Ľadovo reservoir or in the pools of the municipal lido Kúpalisko v Lučenci. We wish you a wonderful stay full of extraordinary experiences.
