Ruins Šariš

On the northwestern edge of the Slanské vrchy, which are overgrown with fragrant forest flowers, dense bushes, and massive trees, you can find an interesting place. It is the Hrad Šebeš castle, also known as Šebešský hrad. Today, only ruins remain of it. Upon closer inspection of the map, you will find that it cadastrally belongs to the territory of the village of Podhradík, located in the Prešov district.

When visiting the castle, park your car in the parking lot of the village of Podhradík directly below the castle. From this free parking lot, an educational trail will lead you directly to the castle. The route is easy and accessible on foot throughout the entire year. On 5 information panels, you can learn more about the history of the castle between 1315 and 1528, archaeological research, the restoration of the castle, stone witnesses, as well as the downfall of the castle. This educational trail is used for local history field trips by schools or by tourists who want to enjoy magnificent views of the village and its surrounding pristine nature.

The castle stands at an altitude of 529 m a.s.l. The site has been declared a national cultural monument and an archaeological site featuring a castle from the 13th century. The castle can be found on a hill above the village, the name of which recalls the location of the Podhradie fort. In the past, the castle was built on an 8 m wide and 60 m long steep spur. The attentive eye of a visitor will not miss its foundations built of stone. A circular tower once stood on the edge of the western side. In the eastern part, there was a residential palace along with a defensive wall above the entrance to the castle. There was also a ditch and a rampart fortification.

When exploring the history of this castle, historical sources mention the year 1315. In a deed of donation by King Charles Robert, the territory along with the castle was granted to Thomas's son, Knight Synko. After the demise of this family line, the castle was donated to the city of Košice. The castle permanently ceased to exist in 1550, when the inhabitants of the city of Prešov burned it down. Only ruins remained, which local residents still visit today for recreational purposes.

If you would like to explore other historical monuments of this region, you can subsequently head to Zbojnícky hrad in the village of Ruská Nová Ves. On summer days, you can refresh yourself at the Vodná nádrž Sigord reservoir. In Prešov, in addition to the salt production museum in Solivar, you can look at the stars in the glowing sky at the Hvezdáreň a planetárium. A session in the Soľná jaskyňa salt cave also has excellent effects on the body. After a walk through the historical center and a visit to the Konkatedrála sv. Mikuláša, you can treat yourself to an excellent cup of coffee.

Are you asking yourself how to manage it all? To avoid being under time pressure and rushing through all the attractions, we recommend booking accommodation near Hrad Šebeš. It is great to have a complete offer of accommodation facilities in the village of Podhradík within reach. You can choose from cozy cottages and chalets or affordable private accommodations in Podhradík. We will be happy to help you choose the best accommodation in Slovakia.

You can visit the remains of Hanigovský hrad above the village of Hanigovce, in the Sabinov district. The castle ruins, also known as Nový hrad, are located at the foot of Čergov, northeast of the town of Lipany. The castle rock reaches an altitude of 771 m above sea level, and you can reach it following the green hiking trail directly from the village of Hanigovce. A yellow hiking trail leads here from the neighboring village of Ľutina. It is an easy walk of approximately 2 km. Your path to the ruins will be made more pleasant by a wellspring with seating and beautiful views.

A wooden fort from the 13th century, built by the nobleman Mikčo, originally stood on the castle hill. In the middle of the 14th century, he asked King Louis I to rebuild the castle into a stone one. He justified his request by stating that the castle was located in the borderlands with Poland and Russia, and that the fortress would strengthen protection. The king granted the request, and a stone structure was built on the castle hill. After the extinction of Mikčo's family line, the castle changed owners several times. The last mention dates back to 1557, when the castle burned down. The Pečovský noble family, who owned it at the time, did not restore it again, and the structure gradually fell into decay to its present form.

The castle area originally had a rectangular floor plan enclosed by castle fortifications. The residential palace consisted of two floors. Access to the fortress led from the southern side and was secured by a watchtower. Emplacements for cannons were created in the fortifications, and the castle was also guarded by loopholes. Other structures in the courtyard were probably made of wood, as no remnants were left after the fire. The stone objects are still clearly identifiable on the castle hill today. The interior of the palace is covered with rubble up to the windows. A significant part of the fortification has also been preserved, reaching up to 3 meters in some places.

If you decide to take a trip to the castle ruins above the village of Hanigovce, be sure not to miss a visit to the Miniskanzen drevených chrámov or water relaxation at Aquapark Lipany in the surrounding area. You can enjoy a magical walk in the picturesque surroundings of Rožkovianske rybníky and beautiful views from the castle rock of Kamenický hrad. The surroundings of Hanigovce offer truly attractive tourist destinations. Come and see for yourself. Book accommodation near Hanigovský hrad and enjoy a stay full of experiences. You will certainly choose from the accommodation offer in Hanigovce on our portal. Visitors to this area especially prefer popular cottages with guaranteed privacy and comfort.

You can find the ruins of Kamenický hrad in the Čergov mountain range. The castle hill rises above the village of Kamenica, located in the district of Sabinov. An educational trail with ten stops will reliably guide you through the most interesting places of this historical structure and its surroundings. In addition to the beautiful natural scenery surrounding the limestone castle cliff, you will also enjoy magical views of the panorama of the wider area. In good visibility, you can see as far as Ľubovniansky hrad, Hanigovský hrad, and Šarišský hrad from the top of the castle hill.

The construction of the castle above Kamenica took place at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. The first written mention dates back to 1306, when the castle belonged to Rikolf Jr. According to documentary evidence, Rikolf built the castle at his own expense. The fortress's location near the Polish border suggests a military and defensive function in addition to a residential one. Throughout its history, the castle changed owners several times, but mostly belonged to the Traczay family. The year 1556 proved fatal for it, when it was conquered and began to fall into ruin. Currently, the preserved remnants are cared for by the civic association Kamenná veža. Among other things, it contributed to the construction of the educational trail, which was opened to visitors in 2009.

Of the monumental fortress, which ranked among the largest castles in Slovakia by area, you will currently find only minor original remnants on the castle hill. Thanks to the aforementioned civic association, the remediation of the remnants of the palace's northern wall was completed, and the mass of the tower and the northern bastion was stabilized. The castle complex is currently open to the public without restrictions. Access is relatively simple. A yellow hiking trail will bring you here directly from the village of Kamenica in about 30 minutes. From the village of Lúčka, you can reach the castle hill in approximately 45 minutes, and from the Potoky locality, also via the yellow route, in about 60 minutes.

Be sure to combine a trip to the remnants of Kamenického hrad with water relaxation and fun at Aquapark Lipany, a walk through the picturesque surroundings of Rožkovianske rybníky, or a visit to Miniskanzen drevených chrámov in the nearby village of Ľutina. There are many, many more tourist attractions and attractive trip destinations in this region. Book accommodation near Kamenického hrad and come see for yourself. You can choose from the selection of accommodation in Kamenica on our portal. Directly in the village and in the adjacent areas, you will find cottages and chalets extremely popular among tourists, which will provide you with an excellent starting location for local attractions. Alternatively, you can look for accommodation in Sabinov, where the options are somewhat broader.

It could be said that Slovakia is a country of castles and chateaux. However, many of them have been gnawed by the teeth of time, while others were destroyed by hostile armies. Hrad Bodoň, which was built as a defense fort on the western slopes of Slanské vrchy, did not withstand the rampage of Tatar troops either. The first written mention of the fortress dates back to 1285, and as you correctly assume, it bears its name after the Bodoň hill, on which only its remains are located today. The castle ceased to exist in 1299, meaning that it fulfilled its defense function for only a single decade.

The fortress was built on a rocky elevation at an altitude of 855 meters above sea level. Its founder was the nobleman Budun of Ploské. The top of the rock cliff has a square floor plan measuring 52 x 50 meters and formed the living area of the castle. This was protected around the perimeter by boundary walls. In the highest part of the plateau, a circular stone tower with an outer diameter of up to 8 meters was located on the northern side. It is assumed that wooden dwellings and farm buildings stood behind the ramparts.

You can reach the ruins from the village of Abranovce as well as Zlatá Baňa. If you have decided to use the second, easier option, a yellow-marked hiking trail approximately 4 km long will lead you to the castle. The path from Abranovce is somewhat more demanding, but all the more interesting. Approximately one-third of the way up, you will come across a strange natural formation, the so-called Raslavkameň. Several legends are tied to it. The most famous one tells of a young knight from Hrad Bodoň who, against his mother's will, used to meet a commoner girl from Prešov. To prevent soldiers from tracking him down, he shod his horse's horseshoes backward. However, his mother found out and cursed Raslav. He turned to stone on the spot. Locals believe that healing energy radiates from the stone. Whether the stone has magical power is something you must see for yourself.

After a short ascent, you will reach a plateau dominated by a huge rock cliff. Today, the traces of the castle consist only of the remnants of the stone tower and castle fortifications. On the forest clearing below the castle, there are benches where you can rest. For a three-hour trip, in addition to a sufficient amount of water, do not forget to pack sausages and bacon. At the resting area, you will find a large fire pit, which is perfect for a family barbecue.

On the way back from the fort, stop by the unique 4-meter wooden megaphone. Sit inside and enjoy the amplified sounds echoing from the forest. After a demanding hike, treat yourself to a rest in a cozy room of a pleasant guest house. You can view the entire offer of accommodation near Hrad Bodoň on our page accommodation in Zlatá Baňa. The following day, take a trip to the nearby village of Červenica and discover the mysterious underground world of the oldest opal mines in the world. Opals from the Slovenské opálové bane are known for their intense play of colors and are highly valued on world markets for their unique properties. End your stay in the Prešovský kraj region by splashing around in the pools of the summer lido Plaza Beach Solivar. A great alternative during bad weather is the covered Aquapark Delňa Prešov.

The remains of Obišovský hrad castle are accessible to tourists and history enthusiasts on the castle hill above the eastern Slovak village of Obišovce, in the district of Košice – okolie. The conical hill called Zámčisko in the Čierna hora mountain range was once home not only to a medieval castle, but also to an ancient hillfort from the Roman period. A place breathing with times long past, it offers a beautiful view of the wide surroundings in addition to a preserved castle wall and terrain remains of the castle grounds.

An ancient hillfort stood on the castle hill as early as the 2nd–3rd century, during the period of the Roman Empire. Proof of this lies in the rare archaeological artifacts that were discovered in these very places. Obišovský hrad castle was built here a whole millennium later. In the 13th century, the Aba family (Abovci) contributed to its construction. It was a simple castle complex consisting of a tower, a residential area, a moat, and a rampart. The castle probably did not last long; its destruction is assumed to have occurred in the 15th century, during the period of castle dismantling.

To this day, part of the castle wall has been preserved from the original castle, and the ramparts and remains of a deep moat are also visible to the naked eye. In addition to the remains of the hillfort and a unique atmosphere, the top of the castle hill offers a nice view of Slanské vrchy and the village of Obišovce. A shelter with seating and space for rest is prepared for tourists and visitors. You can reach the castle ruins via an easy walk directly from the village of Obišovce or from the nearby village of Ličartovce.

You can include a trip to the ruins of Obišovský hrad in the same itinerary with an ascent to the natural Vyhliadka Jánošíkova bašta viewpoint, a visit to Zoologická záhrada Košice, or recreation at Ružínska priehrada dam. That sounds like a diverse set of holiday experiences. All that remains is to book accommodation near Obišovský hrad and you can begin your preparations. Accommodation in Obišovce and surroundings and accommodation in Košice offer a truly wide range of recreational stays. All you have to do is choose.

From a once monumental structure, today only terrain traces, excavations, ramparts, and moats remain. We are talking about Lipovecký hrad – Lipovec castle. In its time, it towered above the Kostoliansky potok, which currently forms the border between Mudrovce and Kecerovský Lipovec in the Košice – okolie district. Its remains still attract tourists, history lovers, and castle ruins enthusiasts today. If you long to follow in the footsteps of old noble families, set off on an adventurous expedition to the castle hill yourself.

The first written mentions of the castle date back to 1282. It has been proven that it was built in the 13th century by the Aba noble family (Abovci), who owned it until the beginning of the 15th century. Subsequently, the property changed owners several times and was destroyed by unknown means in the 16th century. In 1585, it is already mentioned as a ruin in written records. However, some buildings survived, which were devastated only after Rákóczi's War of Independence (Rákociovské povstanie) in the 18th century.

The original construction of the castle was secured on three sides by a moat and a rampart, while the fourth side was strategically protected by a natural steep cliff above the stream. The castle actually stood on the summit plateau of a longitudinal rock. An extensive fortification ran along its edge, and a high tower dominated the entire structure in the middle. The castle included palace buildings with a courtyard and a bridge leading across the moat to the entrance gate. The entire complex was built of stone, but bricks were also found here, which probably date from a later reconstruction.

The existence of the castle, which remains a symbol of the village of Kecerovský Lipovec to this day, is currently evidenced only by terrain traces and masonry remains. In addition to the ravages of time and the influence of nature, lay explorers and treasure hunters also contributed to its demise. Nevertheless, the castle hill remains an attractive tourist destination. In its terrain, the original access road to the castle, castle ramparts, and moats are still visible today. Traces of the palace and minor remains of masonry and bricks have also been preserved. The easiest access to the castle hill leads from the village of Mudrovce. By car, you can get to the forest road below the castle. A relatively steep climb awaits you, so we recommend bypassing the castle hill from the rear side.

You can combine an interesting trip to the remains of Lipovecký hrad with a visit to other attractive trip destinations in the nearby surroundings. Head, for example, to the cold Herliansky gejzír geyser or descend into the underground of the Slovenské opálové bane opal mines. Look at the surroundings from a bird's-eye view from the Rozhľadňa Čerešenka lookout tower or from the back of a majestic horse at the Jazdecká škola Kráľovce riding school. The possibilities in this region are truly diverse.

If an itinerary full of unforgettable experiences appeals to you, start looking for accommodation near Lipovecký hrad – Lipovec castle right now. Capacity fills up quickly during the holiday season. You can bet on accommodation in Kecerovský Lipovec and its immediate surroundings, or choose from a wide range of accommodation in Košice. Local accommodation facilities are guaranteed to meet your expectations and desires.

In terms of the number of medieval castles, Slovakia ranks among the leading countries in Europe. One such castle is Hrad Čičva (also known as Čičava) in the village of Sedliská. It is located on Mernícka pahorkatina, which is part of Beskydské predhorie, above the local area of Podčičva. The castle is now just a ruin, but it is well worth planning a trip to visit it.

You can reach Hrad Čičva, which stands at an altitude of 205 m above sea level, directly from the village. The walk from the bus stop to the castle hill takes approximately 10 minutes. Motorized visitors have a parking lot available right below the castle. Due to the easy nature of the route, this attraction in Sedliská is accessible to all age groups. Wandering through the castle ruins, the romantic setting, and the beautiful views will be appreciated not only by history enthusiasts, but also by younger generations.

The castle is first mentioned in a deed of donation from King Stephen V dating back to 1270, which the monarch granted to the nobleman Raynold along with the surrounding estate. The castle protected an important trade route above the pass known as Porta Polonica (Polish Gate), leading from south to north. The core of the castle consisted of a trapezoid-shaped inner area on the castle hill, which was built in the 15th century by the owners at the time, the Rozgonyi family. The complex was surrounded by a stone wall. Opposite the core, near the entrance gate, stood a palace. The most remarkable feature of the castle is the bergfried. This tongue-twister of a term was used to describe the main round castle tower, which mostly served as the last refuge for the castle's defenders. It is rarely found in the architecture of Slovak castles.

The castle was built in the Romanesque-Gothic style. During its history, an outer bailey was added, followed later by an artillery bastion. An interesting fact is that in 1523, the castle became the property of the "bloody countess" Elizabeth Báthory, who married her husband Ferenc Nádasdy in 1573 in nearby Vranov. In 1610, their daughter Catherine received the castle as a dowry. In 1711, the castle fell into the hands of Imperial General János Pálffy without a fight. His successor, General Lanken, ordered its demolition. It has been a ruin ever since.

After visiting this fascinating place, it is worth moving on to nearby Vranov nad Topľou, where the remarkable sacred monument Bazilika narodenia Panny Márie is well worth your attention. On hot summer days, a refreshing dip at Kúpalisko Vranov nad Topľou will surely hit the spot. If you are one of those who enjoy viewing the world from horseback, you can visit Ranč Sahiba. Adrenaline enthusiasts might enjoy driving fast go-karts at the T1 Ring go-kart track in Vranov nad Topľou.

The region offers a wide array of attractions and options for unique day trips. You will surely fall in love with it and get to know it better if you stay here for a few days. In that case, you will be happy to relax with our hosts, who offer various types of accommodation facilities. Right in Sedliská, you can book perfect accommodation near Hrad Čičva. Or perhaps apartments in the village center will charm you more? You might be intrigued by castle legends told by our hosts during dinner at private accommodation in Sedliská. You can find the offer of our accommodation facilities on the portal MegaUbytovanie.sk.