Chateaus Stredné Slovensko

The castle in the beautiful spa town of Bojnice is among the most beautiful and significant monuments in Slovakia. It is located in Trenčiansky kraj, on the western edge of the town of Bojnice, in the district of Prievidza. It is one of the most popular attractions in Slovakia, not only thanks to its breathtaking appearance and varied history, but also its surroundings.

How a wooden castle became a romantic château

The first mention of the existence of a castle with a settlement below it dates back to 1113, when it was still wooden. Later, in the 13th century, it was gradually rebuilt into a stone structure on an elevation, a travertine hill with a deep crater containing a mineral spring in its center. This spring was later converted into a 27-meter-deep well located inside a deep circular cave. The cave has a diameter of more than 20 meters, is 6 meters high, and has been open to the public since 1967. Small lakes up to 9 meters deep surround the cave.

In the 13th century, the core of the castle was surrounded by a wide fortification. Until then, the castle was property of the Poznan family, but toward the end of the century it was seized by Matúš Čák, who owned it until 1321. The subsequent owner was his illegitimate son Ján Korvín; after the death of King Matthias, the castle was occupied by troops of the Zápoľský family. In 1527, Alexander Turzo received the castle as a gift from King Francis, and the Turzo family rebuilt the core of the castle. As the massive fortification that had been built gradually since the end of the 15th century was sufficient for defense, emphasis shifted toward representation and residential comfort. Thus, the originally Gothic castle transformed into a Renaissance château. After the extinction of the Turzo family in 1636, the castle reverted to the Crown, and a year later Emperor Francis III pledged it to Pavol Pálfi.

In 1643, the Pálfi family (sometimes written Pálffy) received hereditary ownership of the castle, rebuilding began once again, and at the end of the 17th century it ultimately gained a Baroque appearance. Its appearance did not change significantly in the subsequent period. In 1852, after a long period of stagnation and decline, the estate was acquired by its last noble owner, Count Ján František Pálfi. Inspired by various French and Tyrolean Gothic castles, the Papal Palace in Avignon, and early Italian Renaissance architecture, he rebuilt the castle into a romantic château. Although the reconstruction had its own architect, Jozef Hubert, the Count himself designed, drew, and directed all the work of the grand Neo-Gothic reconstruction, which lasted a long 22 years. The Count acquired antiques at various European auctions to decorate the interior. Particularly striking is the Serbia-sourced 17th-century wall paneling of the Turkish Hall. In the chapel, he installed an Italian Gothic altar from the second third of the 14th century. A portrait of the owner is even featured in the cartouche of the carved ceiling in the Golden Hall. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the completed work; he died in 1908, two years before the reconstruction was finished.

Following Pálfi's death, disputes over the inheritance broke out. After an amicable agreement between the Count's heirs and the Czechoslovak state, specific collections were set aside to remain preserved, while the rest were auctioned off between 1924 and 1926. In 1939, the Baťa company bought the château and land, but after the war and the issuance of the Beneš decrees, the property fell to the state.

Since 1950, a museum has been located in the château as part of the Slovenské národné múzeum. Ján František Pálfi had already considered this idea; in his 1907 testament, he expressed the wish that Bojnický zámok along with its artworks be made accessible to the public. For some time, this was indeed the case. However, everything changed on May 9, 1950, when a major fire broke out, destroying all the château's towers, after which interior tours were prohibited. Following the subsequent restoration of the destroyed parts, the château's gates gradually began opening to the public once again. Finally, after structural reorganization and inclusion under the Ministry of Culture of the SSR in 1970, Bojnický zámok became a national cultural monument.

Present day of Bojnický zámok and its surroundings

Visitors continue to be fascinated by the view of the surrounding natural environment. The adjacent castle park, which includes a castle lake with a romantic gazebo, features many magnificent mature tree specimens. Among them is the healing Ginkgo biloba tree with the so-called Matejova lipa. Matejova lipa, also known as Lipa kráľa Mateja, was according to legend planted by Matúš Čák Trenčiansky in 1301. King Matthias Corvinus enjoyed hosting banquets beneath it, and it was named after him. As time passed, it began to deteriorate, making ongoing care necessary. In 1969, it was declared a protected natural creation.

Various events are regularly organized at the château, drawing thousands of visitors. Special Valentine's tours, the theater festival Rozprávkový zámok, or night tours. At the château, you can also meet ghosts, Svetlonos, or even St. Nicholas.

Right next to the château is Národná zoologická záhrada Bojnice. It prides itself on being the oldest and most visited zoo in Slovakia. A tour of the château is most frequently combined by visitors with a visit to the zoo. The exposition at the neighboring Dino Adventure Park will amaze not only children. Giant dinosaur sculptures in some cases even move and make sounds. A tour of Múzeum praveku is also interesting and should not be missed.

Whether you need a health-restoring treatment or simply want to indulge in relaxation, Kúpele Bojnice is perfect for that. If traveling with children, visit the beach swimming pool or the highly popular and sought-after Termálne kúpalisko Bojnice, from whose pools you will look directly at the château's towers. A perfect view also awaits you from Vyhliadková veža Bojnice, giving you a bird's-eye view of the entire surrounding area.

As is evident, exploring the attractions in Bojnice simply cannot be done in one day. The solution in this case is to take a multi-day trip. Book accommodation near Bojnický zámok and set off for the adventure that awaits you here.

In the Novohradský región region, whose center is the town of Lučenec, the magnificent Haličský zámok castle has stood for centuries. The jewel of Novohrad, as the castle is nicknamed, thrones on a lonely hill in the village of Halič, and the view of it looks like something straight out of a fairytale book. The origins of the original stone castle are assumed to date back to the 12th century. Over its long existence, however, it has also gone through difficult times. Two world wars, as well as the insensitive approach of the Communists, disrupted its original architecture, and so the once sumptuous seat of counts began to decay. New life was breathed into it only by the final reconstruction between 2005 and 2016, which transformed the abandoned castle into a grand castle hotel with a beautiful forest park and a pond.

The first written mention of Zámok Halič dates back to 1386, when the Hungarian Queen Mary granted permission to the nobleman Štefan Lossoncy to build a stone fortress. In the 16th century, the original owners were replaced by the Forgách family, who owned the Renaissance-Baroque property until 1948. Turbulent times full of uprisings and rebellions, however, took their toll on its exterior. The last reconstruction initiated by the Forgách family took place in 1897. The greatest damage to the seat occurred during World War I, when Hungarian soldiers looted it in 1919. The subsequent onset of the Communist regime in 1948 turned the historic monumental building into the headquarters of a JRD (Unified Agricultural Cooperative). The Social Care Institute for Mentally Disabled Youth Lučenec, which was housed here in the 1960s, also contributed to its detriment. From 1993, this historic building remained without an owner and thus began to wither away. Nature itself and antisocial groups of the population also contributed to its ruin.

Hope for the rebirth of the castle dawned in 2005, when the former aristocratic seat was bought by a Košice-based company. After demanding reconstruction works that lasted ten years, the ruin became a luxurious hotel with a restaurant, which also offers guided tours of designated areas. If you are wondering what you can see at the castle, the answer is simple. Right upon arrival, you will be captivated by the Arkádia castle hall, located under a glass dome. After the tour, you can relax here in a stylish castle café. The second largest and at the same time most representative space is the County Hall (Župná sieň), which boasts magnificent frescoes from 1762. The room also features unique Rococo tile stoves decorated with gold ornaments. On the walls hang paintings of the original owners, primarily from the Forgách family. Another interesting room is the Representative Apartment with original wooden beams and historic furniture.

Your tour will continue to the 1st floor, where you will be delighted by a corridor with a cycle of unique wall paintings depicting Hungarian monarchs from the 16th to 17th centuries. Part of Haličský zámok is also a beautiful Baroque fountain, a castle park with a rose garden, and a moat. The castle hotel is an ideal place for all lovers of history and nobility, as well as for a romantic wedding. You can say your "I do" in the local chapel, which was consecrated in 2017. If you have decided to visit the castle during the summer season, you can enjoy a romantic boat ride on the adjacent pond or a picnic on its shores.

If you still feel like exploring, head to the nearby village of Divín, where you will find the ruins of the Gothic Hrad Divín castle and the Zichyho kaštieľ manor house, which was once home to local landowners. End a demanding day full of history in a comfortable room of the Haličský apartmán. The complete range of accommodation near Zámok Halič will be displayed on the page accommmodation in Haliči. The next day can be spent on the shores of the Vodná nádrž Ľadovo reservoir or in the pools of the municipal lido Kúpalisko v Lučenci. We wish you a wonderful stay full of extraordinary experiences.

Kuneradský zámok is situated at the mouth of the Svitačová dolina valley, near the village of Kunerad. Standing guard over the valley at an altitude of 600 m above sea level, its surroundings are adorned with picturesque nature. Two fires in recent years damaged the chateau so severely that it is currently closed to the public. Despite this, it remains a frequently visited tourist attraction in the Rajecká dolina valley, mainly because hiking trails leading to the popular peaks of the Lúčanská part of Malá Fatra pass right next to it.

The new owners, who live in Switzerland, are striving to save the chateau and preserve this treasure for future generations. The ongoing restoration work can be observed from the adjacent chateau park and meadows, where you can enjoy a pleasant family walk. In the park, you will also find the Pamätník SNP (SNP Monument), which was renovated for the public in 2020.

Kuneradský zámok saw the light of day in 1912, originally serving as a hunting lodge for Count Ballestrem and his family, who used it primarily during the hunting season. The chateau was built with elements of French Art Nouveau. Towers, arcades, terraces, and exterior staircases gave this romantic building its charming appearance. The interior was also lavishly furnished, and the chateau even had its own water-powered power plant. The Count's family also established a chapel inside the chateau. During the Slovak National Uprising, the chateau was occupied by partisans and subsequently burned down by the Fascists. After reconstruction, the premises served as a treatment facility for the nearby Kúpele Rajecké Teplice spa.

You will surely be pleased to know that you can find pleasant accommodation near Kuneradský zámok. Cottages and guesthouses in Rajecké Teplice will fulfill your expectations to the point. In the nearby village of Kunerad, it is worth visiting the local healing spring on the way, colloquially named "Studnička Zuzička". The next day, you can visit Stratený budzogáň or head to Lietavský hrad. For some well-deserved relaxation, you can indulge yourselves in Kúpele Rajecké Teplice, and in the summer, you can enjoy the sunshine at the Termálne kúpalisko Laura thermal pool. Following the hiking trail from the chateau, you can reach Martinské hole and explore its hidden corners as well. Do not hesitate and discover this region during your holiday in Slovakia.