Ruins Údol

If you have ever driven around the Stará Ľubovňa district, the work in the village of Plaveč – Plavečský hrad certainly did not escape your attention. It spreads above the wide valley of the Poprad river. Its original function was reserved for defense, nowadays it serves rather as a place with magnificent views of the wide surroundings. Do you want to experience a pleasant picnic in an amazing atmosphere or go on a minor hike as a family? Then choose Hrad Plaveč as your trip destination.

The castle was built in the 13th century. Plavečský hrad was built by the nobleman Arnold, son of Ditrich from Spiš. Significant dynasties inhabited it, among them for example the Anjou or the Luxembourg family. In the 18th century, it lost its significance and was rebuilt into a residential mansion. Since the statics of the castle were disrupted, its owners moved to the manor house. It gradually began to decay, and a fire also engulfed it. Now, with the help of volunteers, it is being successfully reconstructed.

This luxurious mansion thus became the attraction of Plaveč, which many tourists visit every year. You can set out for the Deň Hradu Plaveč event, which takes place on the last Sunday of August, or alternatively for children's day during the first Saturday of June.

Access to the castle is very simple. You can start in the village of Plaveč and direct your steps to the Podzámok locality. You will recognize the castle already on the basis of its silhouette. The journey takes about 10 to 15 minutes on foot and even smaller children can manage it. So as not to tire them out too much, we recommend checking out accommodation near Hrad Plaveč. It is one of the ways to spend a nice time.

There are also many other places in the vicinity of the village that you can visit. Many clients of Ľubovnianske kúpele praise the surrounding nature. Do not miss amazing walks along trails or cycling routes. A tour of the slightly more distant Nestville park is also interesting. However, if you plan a wellness stay in the guest house Plaveč, you will certainly be more than satisfied. Slightly more privacy on the other hand is offered by chalets and cottages Plaveč. Of course, the choice of accommodation in Plaveč is entirely up to you.

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.