Castles Spiš

There are few cases where natural richness marries cultural heritage so seamlessly. One of them can be found in Spiš, one of the most famous and most visited regions of Slovakia. And it is not just a Slovak, but a European uniqueness. Spišský hrad. One of the largest castles in all of Europe.

Thanks to its majesty, it is impossible to miss the castle. You will see it from afar, right from the highway. Lying below it is the small town of Spišské Podhradie, which is famous for its cathedral and priestly seminary. Spišský hrad castle is situated on a local travertine hill and, with an area of over 40,000 square meters, is one of the largest in all of Europe.

The entire castle rock is even a national natural monument. And the castle itself is inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list.

The travertine mound on which the castle stands enjoys an excellent strategic position. It stands up to 200 meters above the surrounding terrain, with the final meters being almost vertical. In the past, the travertine cliffs posed a great obstacle to enemies. The hillfort was inhabited back in ancient times by early cultures, even in the era before Christ. The period from the tenth to the thirteenth century represented a period of great development for the castle. Due to attacks by the Tatars, there was an acute need for a defensive castle. The first structure to be built was a massive, majestic tower, which was destroyed by an earthquake. In the 13th century, its successor was built, a tower that stands to this day.

During this period, there was vibrant construction activity at the castle. Paradoxically, the castle progressed despite the devastating Mongol invasions in 1241. A century later, a further expansion of the castle took place. The courtyard, measuring 150 x 60 meters, was exceptionally spacious for its time. Over time, the lower massive courtyard, which gives the castle such a large area, began to become a burden. Maintaining guards and defending such a vast area was unnecessary. Therefore, as time went on, it began to be used almost exclusively for economic and utility purposes.

The castle was ruled by the most famous royal and noble families. Worth mentioning are the Thurzo, Zápoľský, and Csák families. Over time, the castle began to fall into disrepair, playing its final role during the uprising. Imperial troops were stationed here, later abandoning the castle. The nail in the castle's coffin was a fire in 1780. The castle then decayed, lasting until 1945. It had to wait a while longer for reconstruction. Rescue and restoration works on the castle only began in 1961.

A tour of the castle offers something interesting for everyone. The castle tower, torture chamber, exhibition of period weapons, or a walk through the lower courtyard offer a wide spectrum of things to see. It would be a shame to miss the surrounding attractions, such as Katedrála sv. Martina in Spišská Kapitula or historical Levoča.

You will find the most convenient accommodation with the best access to Spišský hrad castle in Spišské Podhradie or nearby Žehra, which boasts a small church also inscribed on the UNESCO list. Your choices will primarily consist of private accommodations, but you will also find affordable and pleasant guesthouses. Discover our European-renowned gems and set out to explore the secrets of Spiš.

Relatively few preserved castles have survived in our country today. If you do not enjoy wandering among unstable ruined walls and imagining what the castle once looked like, visit the town of Kežmarok. The town castle, or chateau, has stood here for centuries in an almost unchanged form. You have the opportunity to peek into the lives of nobles and lords of the castle, the wealthiest people of that time.

Today, the castle gives the impression of a romantic chateau. This was not always the case. The castle was originally Gothic and was built sometime at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. It did not spring up on a greenfield site. In its place stood Kostol sv. Alžbety church from 1251. A residential wing was later added to the church, turning it into a monastery.

The first written mention of the castle dates back to 1447. A later owner, Imrich Zápoľský, ordered the demolition of both the church and the monastery. This took place in 1486. The construction material from the monastery was used in building the western wing of the castle. Many Slovak castles were struck by fire. Fires rendered many of them uninhabitable, and due to a lack of funds, they began to fall into ruin. A similar disaster did not spare Kežmarský hrad either. And it happened several times. However, it was luckier. One of the fires engulfed it as early as 1575. The reconstruction was in the Renaissance style, and shortly thereafter, the castle fell into the hands of one of the most influential families, the Thökölys.

Thanks to various renovations, Kežmarský hrad began to transform from a cold castle into a pleasant and romantic chateau. The conversion into a chateau reached its final version in 1657, when artists from Italy decorated its entire interior. Even the castle stables had mangers made of marble. A year later, a chapel located in a former defensive bastion was built, or rather rebuilt.

The glorious period of the castle ended in 1720, when it was purchased by the town of Kežmarok. It was used for economic purposes and consequently began to fall into disrepair. Part of the castle fortification was destroyed as well. In 1931, the town established a small town museum in the tower. Kežmarský zámok gained sad notoriety during World War II, when Germans were stationed there and executed several partisans. Extensive reconstruction and preparations for opening it to the public began in 1960.

The castle exhibitions are remarkably varied. Kežmarok was always a town of craftsmen, housing up to 36 medieval guilds. You can find their coats of arms and traditional tools right inside the castle. Exhibitions familiar from other castles include a wide range of weapons or a tour of the castle chapel. Highlights include the dungeon, an exhibition of a medieval pharmacy, or historical vehicles. Everyone will enjoy the castle tour.

As one of the most important towns in Spiš, Kežmarok offers many accommodation options. In addition to hotels and hostels, it offers numerous guest houses. Staying in a burgher house right on the town square. That awaits you as well. If you are looking for more affordable accommodation, choose one of the many private accommodations. Discover Spiš directly from its center, right beneath the ramparts of Kežmarský hrad.

Few people would guess that northeastern Slovakia, bordering Poland, is a place where you can find interesting castles. Nevertheless, we have a trip idea for you in this area as well. If you set out to discover the beauties of Pieniny or the wild Dunajec, visit the town of Stará Ľubovňa. Above it towers the well-known Ľubovniansky hrad castle.

In the past, when Slovakia did not yet exist, trade was conducted between our homeland and the surrounding areas much like today. The Kingdom of Hungary (Uhorsko) and Poland were significant partners, and one of the most important trade routes of that time led beneath what is now Ľubovniansky hrad. It was created as a guard castle that ensured the defense and safety of the route. It was built around the year 1280 by the husband of the daughter of the Hungarian King Béla IV.

The castle initially went through a bumpy development. Its owners changed virtually one after another; it even happened that a certain family controlled it for only 4 years. Despite this instability, Ľubovniansky hrad made its mark on history in a big way. Poland and the Kingdom of Hungary agreed on peace, as the Kingdom of Hungary was interested in expanding its empire toward Dalmatia and Venetia. Battles with Poland were unnecessarily weakening it, so peace was the best way forward. Moreover, Poland lent money to the Kingdom of Hungary to conquer new territories, so it needed collateral. And so, in 1412, Ľubovniansky hrad, together with 16 other Spiš towns, ended up under Polish pledge.

The period under Polish rule lasted from 1412 until 1769. The castle was inhabited at the time by Polish mayors representing the pledged territory. For the castle, it was a significant benefit. During this time, the castle underwent its largest reconstructions, partly due to a castle fire in 1553. King Sigismund II Augustus ordered an extensive reconstruction into a Renaissance fortress. An interesting fact is that the most modern bastion, a defensive tower, was built at the castle at that time. For a certain period, the Polish coronation jewels were also kept at the castle.

Polish rule over the castle ended only in 1772 during the reign of Maria Theresa. The most significant noble family of the final period and at the same time the last owner of the castle was the Zamoyski family from 1883 to 1945.

What about the castle today? Part of the castle is in its original condition, part as a ruin. You certainly won't be bored here. In the preserved part, there is a museum where you will have the opportunity to see exhibitions of period furniture, weapons, or an exhibition room. Directly below the castle cliff lies another attraction, the Múzeum ľudovej architektúry open-air museum. You will thus see with your own eyes how not only the nobility lived, but also their subjects.

Stará Ľubovňa offers the widest accommodation options in the area. More demanding guests who enjoy pleasant hotels will find what they are looking for, as will those who prefer budget accommodation. Plenty of private stays, hostels, and cottages will convince you to visit Ľubovniansky hrad as well.