Manor houses Prešovský kraj

In the northern part of the Poprad Basin, at the confluence of the Poprad and the Beliansky stream, lies the town of Spišská Belá. Right here you will find a gem of Slovak Renaissance architecture, kaštieľ Strážky. Spišská Belá is situated in the Prešov Region, in the district of Kežmarok, approximately 20 km north of Poprad, the gateway to the tourist-beloved Vysoké Tatry. The local manor house attracts visitors not only with its charming architecture, but also with valuable permanent exhibitions and occasional programming by the Slovenská národná galéria. The charm of this unique place is completed by an 19th-century English park, which is made for a romantic stroll.

Art lovers can let themselves be enchanted by four permanent exhibitions in kaštieľ Strážky. Two of them are presentations of visual art pieces. The exhibition Portrét 17.–19. storočia na Spiši is a collection of portraits consisting largely of works from the family gallery of the former owners of the manor house (the Horváth-Stansith, Szirmay, Mednyánszky, and Czóbel families, as well as Spiš families such as Csáky, Esterházy, etc.). The second visual art exhibition, entitled Ladislav Mednyánszky a Strážky, is the only permanent exhibition in Slovakia presenting the works of one of the main representatives of Central European painting of the last third of the 19th and early 20th century, Ladislav Mednyánszky. The exhibition is a selection from a comprehensive body of the artist's works, which primarily come from his early periods and document individual stages of the development of his artistic style.

The third interesting exhibition of the picturesque manor house is Historická knižnica Strážky, which is part of the national cultural heritage. Its origins date back to the last quarter of the 16th century. The impressive collection contains an incredible 8,500 volumes, magazines, and maps. The last exhibition of the Slovenská národná galéria can be viewed by visitors in the premises of kaštieľ Strážky. Under the title Sochárstvo na Slovensku v 20. storočí, works of important Slovak sculptors from the second half of the 20th century are presented here in the impressive setting of the English park. The picturesque park grounds blend pleasantly with the riverbed of the Poprad River and the surrounding countryside. It thus creates a beautiful scenery for a pleasant walk with an artistic touch.

A magnificent artistic object is undoubtedly the building of kaštieľ Strážky itself. It was built on the foundations of a Gothic castle. Later owners, the Horváth-Stansith family, gradually rebuilt it into a beautiful Renaissance manor house. This picturesque manor house acquired its present appearance through a reconstruction in the 17th century. A typical square floor plan with an inner courtyard was created by adding a fourth wing after a fire at the beginning of the 18th century. Kaštieľ Strážky, together with the kostol sv. Anny and a Renaissance bell tower in the historic town center, forms a national cultural monument.

Can you get enthusiastic about art and architectural monuments set in unique outdoor scenery? If so, definitely do not miss a visit to Spišská Belá and kaštieľ Strážky during your holiday in the Tatras. You can combine a trip here with a tour of Belianska jaskyňa, the largest and only accessible high-mountain dripstone cave in the Tatranský národný park. A matter of course during a holiday in this region is a wide range of accommodation near kaštieľ Strážky. Accommodation in Kežmarok presents a broad spectrum of apartments, guesthouses, picturesque villas, cottages, and chalets. You will certainly find something to your liking here.

Almost every inhabitant of Stropkov knows where the manor house is located. However, few people know that Kaštieľ v Stropkove is also a remnant of a 15th-century castle. Come inspect this interesting place for yourself and learn about its history.

The original castle was built by the Balick family, and later taken over by the Perényi family. However, its flourishment and development were brought about by the Pethő family of Gerse, who also lived in the castle. The first written mentions are found in the donation deeds of King Sigismund of Luxembourg from 1408. The original structure was shaped like a pentagon with five corner towers. The complex contained a palace and a parish church. The castle walls were built in the 16th century as a defense against Turkish raids. In 1814, a fire broke out in a blacksmith workshop, nearly destroying the castle completely. At the end of the 18th century, the castle walls ceased to serve their defensive function, and were therefore dismantled and used by local residents as building material. Over time, only the church and the manor house remained in the open space, undergoing several structural modifications over the centuries. Probably the most valuable part of this grand building is the Renaissance knights' hall, which was preserved thanks to the last reconstruction in 2006.

You will find the Gothic-Renaissance manor house on Zámocká ulica near the church. It is currently owned by the town. Directly in front of the manor house is a small parking lot for visitors, who can visit the museum and gallery exhibitions located on the ground floor and in the attic. In the aforementioned knights' hall, there is an exhibition dedicated to the history of the town and its surroundings. The gallery in the attic presents several dozen artworks by local native and painter František Veselý. Paintings with themes of ecology and physiology are as yet undiscovered, but artistically very valuable.

Your little ones will certainly be thrilled by the doll exhibition as well, and you will fondly remember the old days of childhood. Here you will find dolls dressed in various outfits from different places all over the world. Can you imagine a geography or literature lesson in such an exhibition? You say no? Visit this unique place and see the resourcefulness of the local guides for yourself.

After touring the manor house, we recommend continuing your trip to Zoo park Stropkov. Marked by fatigue, a refreshment at Letné kúpalisko Stropkov might come in handy. And then go see the unique Drevený kostolík sv. Paraskievy in the village of Potoky. History lovers will appreciate a visit to Múzeum Tokajíckej tragédie, while admirers of traditional architecture will gladly visit Skanzen ukrajinskej dediny in Svidník.

When visiting Stropkov, we recommend using the services of our accommodation providers. Feel free to book accommodation near Kaštieľ v Stropkove and enjoy the atmosphere of this town. A wide spectrum of accommodation facilities guarantees that you will be able to choose the exact stay that suits you. For one day it can easily be a room in a guesthouse Stropkov, and for longer stays, for instance, private accommodation. Do not hesitate to choose from our offer.

Surrounded by the picturesque nature of the Horný Šariš region, in the district of Prešov, in a quiet part of the village of Fričovce, you will find a true gem of Slovak Renaissance architecture. The beautiful Kaštieľ Fričovce manor house dates back to the beginning of the 17th century, when the construction of manor houses in Slovakia was at its peak. Its uniqueness lies primarily in its exterior sgraffito figurative decoration depicting around 150 historical and mythological figures. In addition to its beautiful architecture, the manor house attracts visitors with an excellent restaurant and an adjacent park with small ponds and historical trees.

This charming monument was built between 1623 and 1630 by the Berthóty family. The author of the figurative decoration is the painter and sgraffito artist Martin Waxman. He created the artwork on the building's facade using the two-color sgraffito technique, utilizing ivory and greyish-black charcoal. An interesting feature of the figures is their larger heads compared to their bodies. During creation, the author took into account the vertical perspective of the viewer looking up from below. In terms of content, you can admire up to 150 figures from various fields on the decoration. Here you will find ancient gods, figures symbolizing human virtues, figures from Hungarian and Polish history, kings, sultans, and emperors of the Roman Empire.

In 1998, the Tomko family became the owners of the manor house, breathing new life into the dilapidated building after more than 40 years. Extensive reconstruction included structural repairs, restoration of the exterior, interiors, outbuildings, and the park. The foundation of the greenery consists of deciduous trees reaching ages of 100 to 150 years. You can admire old linden trees, chestnuts, maples, as well as wingnut, mulberry, tulip tree, and ginkgo. Small ponds complete the beautiful scenery. In addition to touring the historical building and taking a walk through the picturesque park, you can also treat yourself to a delicious lunch or sit down for a fine coffee in the manor house. Directly inside the historical premises of the manor house, you will find a popular restaurant with a selection of culinary specialties of Slovak cuisine.

You can combine a tour of this beautiful manor house in Fričovce with an exciting adrenaline adventure: a ride in an armored personnel carrier. Would you like to step into the role of a soldier for a moment and explore the surrounding nature from aboard a tank? Or do you prefer a journey into history and making a trip to the ruins of Lipovský hrad castle? In nearby Lipovce, you can also venture into the mysterious underground of the unlit Zlá diera cave or to an interesting spot defying the laws of physics called the Lačnovská gravitačná anomália. Will you uncover its secret?

This region boasts a wide range of points of interest and attractive, albeit lesser-known, hiking trails. To have enough time to discover them all, we recommend booking accommodation near Kaštieľ Fričovce. The selection of popular cottages in Fričovce and neighboring villages is truly diverse. If you prefer the comfort of a guesthouse or accommodation in apartments, we recommend choosing from the accommodation offer in Prešov. You are sure to find a holiday base according to your expectations here.

In the center of the town of Humenné, you will find a monumental Renaissance-Baroque mansion also known as Humenský zámok. Built on the site of a former medieval water castle, it is a national cultural monument and at the same time the seat of a museum. If you visit eastern Slovakia, do not miss the town of Humenné and the mansion, which is its dominant landmark.

The former residence of the Drugetovcov family, built in the Renaissance style in the 14th century, was rebuilt in the Baroque style at the beginning of the 19th century under the ownership of the Andrášiovcov family. The residence was modified according to their own ideas, giving it a uniform architectural form. An English and French park were built additions to the mansion. Several rooms acquired fireplaces and the ceilings rich decorative stucco. At the end of World War II, Humenský zámok was damaged by a fire that affected the roof. Its repair took place only after almost 20 years. Thanks to this as well, we can admire the spaces of the mansion and the artistic and historical monuments located within it today.

In Humenskom kaštieli, you will find the Vihorlatské múzeum with its permanent exhibitions. The museum is dedicated to artistic-historical monuments as well as natural history exhibitions. The last opened permanent exhibition is the Sacral Exhibition with the chapel of Panny Márie, which you can view in the original premises of the mansion. At the same time, the museum prepares a wide range of events and exhibitions for its visitors throughout the year.

So do not hesitate and visit one of the largest and most expansive mansions in Slovakia. In the area of the mansion, you will find an adjacent park with a fountain, where you can conclude your tour with a pleasant walk. If you are tempted by history and ancient times, do not miss the exhibition of folk architecture and living in Skanzene Humenné.

A great tip is daytime or evening sky observation at the Vihorlatskej hvezdárni Humenné. In the astronomical observatory, you will find the second-largest telescope in Slovakia. Thanks to low light pollution, it is worth coming precisely for the evening observation of a sky full of stars. Just choose the right accommodation near Renesančného kaštieľa Humenné and off you go to explore the town and everything it offers. Book a nearby apartment or a pleasant guesthouse and enjoy your trip to the fullest.