Manor houses Šariš

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.