Ruins Pinciná

Slovakia is a country rich in various interesting castles and châteaux. Not only history lovers will surely appreciate a visit to the town located in the Banskobystrický kraj region in the district of Lučenec. This town is Fiľakovo, above which the majestic Fiľakovský hrad stands proudly on a hill. Visit its premises and soak up the atmosphere from ancient times.

The Fiľakovský hrad dates back to the Middle Ages. Originally, a stone castle stood on the site of the castle hill. The first written mention dates back to 1242, stating that Fiľakovský hrad withstood the Mongol invasions. This fortified noble residence went through the hands of several owners, among the most prominent being Matúš Čák Trenčiansky. The castle was conquered multiple times, yet it was always successfully restored. This was perhaps also due to the fact that sessions and meetings of the surrounding counties took place at the castle. In 1682, the castle burned down, and along with it, the county archive and the town were reduced to ashes. Unfortunately, it has never been restored to its original form since then. It recovered only to the extent that an exhibition of the Hradné múzeum vo Fiľakove museum is currently established on its premises.

In the castle complex, you can see only a single remaining original bastion. In the past, the castle consisted of a quadrangular tower with a perimeter wall, a palace, and likely an embankment with palisades. Over time, the castle was rebuilt and other structures were added. If you visit today, you can discover various displayed exhibits on the three lower floors of the five-story Bebekova bašta bastion. In the exhibition entitled Centuries of the Fiľakovo Castle, you will also discover part of the Hodejovský bronze treasure or some of the belt fittings from the period of the Avar Khaganate. In addition to the history of the castle, you will learn more about the history of the town. In the second permanent exhibition, you will explore many interesting facts about fossilized life around Fiľakovo. You can view impressions of plants and bivalves or other museum artifacts. Do not skip the exhibition entitled Fiľakovo 1938 – 1945, which will introduce you underground to life during the cruel wartime period.

The museum tries to cater to all types of visitors, which is why a relaxation corner has been created on one of the floors. Its centerpiece consists of large screens displaying video recordings with a 3D reconstruction of the castle's original state. The footage is complemented by videos from various events held at this castle. Temporary exhibitions covering various interesting topics are also regularly held on the grounds of the castle complex. Plan your visit during opening hours and step back into the past, at least in part.

So you don't end up completely exhausted after touring the castle, we recommend booking accommodation near Fiľakovský hrad. You will have it within reach and can discover other attractions this town has to offer. Taking a walk across the square, you can admire the Art Nouveau town hall building. A Baroque manor house or a parish church are also present. A horseback ride at the Julova dolina farm might be a bit more fun for you. A stroll through the city park, which originally originated from Turkish gardens, can also have a calming effect. You will experience a stunning view during a visit to the stone waterfall. In summer, refreshing yourself in the pools of the Novolandia thermal park will be wonderful.

We will gladly help you find the best accommodation in Slovakia. We offer multiple accommodation facilities located directly in the town of Fiľakovo and its surroundings. If you would like to wake up in a cozy and comfortable bed, book an Fiľakovo apartment. Perhaps private accommodation in Fiľakovo will appeal to you more in terms of price. It all depends entirely on your preferences. We will be happy to advise you.

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.